The Housening

(Making up dumb horror movie-esque titles is fun)

Hooray for a day off! After dropping off Hubby, I completed two Shi*t orders, then came home and went to work. I stripped our bed, started laundry, and headed down to the Sewing Nook. Today's project was hanging the decor. 

The shelf:

Holy poop, those messy cords!! 

I'm sad about this: I stored my Singer bobbins in an antique Wyler's soup boullion jar, saved by one of my grandmothers, and today I dropped the jar and it broke all over the place. I thought I picked up all the pieces with the vacuum, but I found this last one was hanging around, waiting for my bare foot. Just look at this evil thing:

I've been waiting months (possibly years) to hang this mirror, with the cutest paint job ever, above the basement fireplace. FINALLY it happened. Check out this stained fireplace - maybe we'll paint it someday. Either way, how cozy to have a fireplace in the sewing area. I love it.

Also, I was able to hang the Phoebe Hoop over the Juki table:

B made cookies. (Not pictured: B)

C and K installed the new curtain rod over our bedroom window:

Yay!!! 

Nice and fresh. 

The Uncordening

While standing in for our MIA cashier this morning, I kept busy sprucing up the counter behind the cash registers, and made sure none of D's windows were obscured. Then I realized, I have two windows that are very obscured by computer monitors, and decided to move everything on my desk so I could maybe look out my windows into the store. What??? What an idea. 

First, I had to assess the cord situation. 

HOLY CRAP the mess

While dismantling, I found three cords that were connected to nothing. Several others are outdated equipment that can't be unattached from the hardware, so I rolled them up and rubber-banded them (which is in fact the technical term). 

Several Lysol wipes and customers later...

....I have windows! (They're real tiny)

I'm not sure how long I'll keep it this way. The monitors are so far apart that I'm worried that looking back and forth between them will be like watching a tennis game. But everything is clean and decluttered, which feels great. I'm excited to see, when I work next, if I'll remember that I reorganized my desk, or if I'll forget about it over the weekend and get a big surprise the next time I go in. 

In other news, work went well, but I can't wear my teeny white Supergas to work anymore. I fell in love with them and bought them at a thrift store, and wasn't sure about the size because it's a European brand. They just barely fit, and they look really cute, but walking with pinched pinky toes is painful - not something you want in a shoe. A new pair in my correct size is on my wish list.

Bryton gave me grow lights! Now I can start that new weed farm! Bryton said the lights were just kicking around their apartment, and offered them to me. I'm excited for my house plants! Hopefully they'll have a great winter now.

And one more thing: I went into creepy stalker mode and peeked at Junior's schedule for October and November. I have only two shifts left to work with him between now and December. Color me relieved! But now I'm curious: did D's last "NO" speech to Junior do the trick? Or will he make the attempt a third time?? The suspense is delicious!

Stay uncordened, my friends.

JUNIOR STRIKES AGAIN

There have been bosses I hated, and coworkers I couldn't stand - just a few, most of them have been great - but I have never been tempted to tell a coworker to go f&$# himself

...until today.

This morning Junior asked D AGAIN if he could be trained for my job. It was as if last week never happened! The kid is thick! 

D once again told him that my job is not up for grabs, "it won't be for a very long time," and no, he wouldn't train him to do my job because it's my job. Later D said to me that he tried to be as clear as possible. Let's hope it sinks in this time!

Fearful of what I might say if I opened my mouth, I didn't speak to him again unless I had to, for the rest of my shift. 

Fortunately, he only works two shifts in November. Whew! D cut his hours way back for this and other antics the kid has been committing over the last few weeks. 

Little jerk.

It's a good thing my cute green pumpkin has a cute orange butt.

Sewing Space!

HELLO FROM OUR GREEN PUMPKIN! It's well past harvest time for this guy, as evidenced by our pumpkin patch trip yesterday.

I had the day off, so after I got everyone dropped off, I spent the rest of the day organizing. There's a lot of stuff upstairs that needs to go downstairs, but we're all too scared of the basement to do anything about it. I decided to take action.

It's not finished yet, but I'm happy with the progress. I need to get rid of about 15 lb of mending and finish all of my works in progress. It would also be cool to get things hung on the wall and the TV and VCR up and running again.

Not pictured: I also moved a bookcase and its books to the south wall of the family room, and C helped me move one of the old Keen dressers to the sewing area. It's not just that we needed to put the machines on the tables and organize everything; we also have to barricade it from the girls.

Happily, I did get to sew for a minute, and that made me happy and stay motivated to keep working on it in the days to come. 

Stay tuned for more updates. I'm going to go take a bath.

Birthday at the Pumpkin Patch

Sequim

Junior's Attempt at Mutiny

Working where I do has been by far my best employment experience ever. I love the place, the people, the job, everything. 

See: sometimes we get free food

But today sucked donkey butt.

This morning Junior, one of last year's cashier hires (hired at the same time I was promoted), overheard D and me chatting about my taking time off for an upcoming trip (now not happening). Junior offered to fill in for me while I was gone, which seemed like a kind but ignorant move. I'm not a cashier; I'm a supervisor. He can't fill in for me.

I explained to him that our roles are different and that I have duties he doesn't do. He asked what they are, I explained them to him. He told me he had experience doing some of them. I said, sorry, it's not the same thing and you can't jump in and do my job while I'm gone. It won't work. I was hired for my position just like he was hired for his. He listened and seemed to understand, if not agree. 

Then, an hour later, as D and I were seated at our desks, working, Junior came to our office and asked to talk to D about being trained in "some aspects of [my] job". I was sitting right there. It was shocking, to say the least.

Apparently, nothing I said to him landed. It's like we never talked at all. I was very angry, not because I'm worried about losing my job to this guy, but at his lack of respect - for me, my ability to do my job, and the conversation where I believed I explained my position. He ignored everything I said and went over my head, IN FRONT OF ME.

Again, it's not like Junior can take my job - frankly, he can barely do his own. But I had no idea that he felt that way about me (or wanted my job that bad) until today. I was thrown off by it. I'm so used to people liking me, or at least pretending to like me, that running into this blatant attempt at snatching my job was a blow.

My two dear friends, Saint Ben and Saint Jerry, were kind enough to help soothe my shaken soul. Bless them.

Pep Band Bound!

I received my pep band dates! Now to start practicing...

Bootsy vs Stool Lady

Enjoying some lunch and being a terrible person

Hubby is headed out of town for a couple of days for work. I'm excited for him, since travel = photography, and he's going to a part of our neighboring state that we don't travel to much. 

Also, the place where he's staying is quite nice, and it sounds like he'll have a great time. He came to campus and hugged me goodbye before he left. Here's the lodge.

And now, the "I am a terrible person" story.

Stool Lady made an appearance this morning. Fortunately Dan and I were absorbed in refunding forgotten orders, so the cashiers had to deal with her (it was me last time). 

She got her nickname from the way she walks into the bookstore and yells "STOOL" at the first employee she sees (again, me last time), followed by instructions to get her a stool - "You always get me a stool when I come in" - and then waits for the employee to run and grab a stool for her to sit on. She uses a walker for her back, and it's one of the rolling sit-on walkers with a place for her to sit when she's not walking, but the seat is so cluttered with her crap that she can't use it. 

Once seated, her mouth runs nonstop at us. The multi-tasking is nothing short of amazing: somehow she manages to bark orders, list all of her past occupations, complain about EVERYTHING, and try to kiss our butts at the same time. Of course we feel bad for her, but curb that entitlement, lady! Plenty of hurting folks out there don't come into the bookstore and crap all over the underlings. Hear that? NO CRAPPING ON UNDERLINGS. 

The two cashiers did a great job of taking her abuse and hustling her out of the store (with Dan's authoritative help - "YOU'LL HAVE TO CHARGE YOUR DEVICE SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU CAN'T DO THAT HERE" shouted from his desk) as soon as they could, and we all spent the next six hours decompressing.

Aside from these shenanigans, it's been a good morning. I'm exhausted from waking up at 2:30 AM, but that's what the devil's bean juice is for, am I right?? 

With enough coffee, life is good, my un-crapped-on underlings.

Nothing left but crumbs

Remnants of post-work chillage (and laundry I will soon be folding)

Cup and saucer: Wedgwood, Nantucket pattern. Thrifted. Decorated with brownie crumbs.

I have a plan to stock my dish cupboard with thrifted, unmatched, off-white cup and saucer sets. So far, I have two. My first set (I think it's a Pfaltzgraff) was found at a thrift shop in Warrenton, Oregon, with Cousin Jen, during our girls beach weekend back in March. We found three cup/saucer combos, and we each (Jen, Mel, and I) took a set home. This is my cup-and-saucer report. 

Today: worked, ended up staying 15 minutes late due to extra customers. More students are attending classes and are on campus this quarter; this is the biggest group since covid happened. Yay, recovery! 

The music department emailed all of us employees in need of pep band musicians for this winter, and I offered up my clarinet services. I played with them two winters ago - it's a fun way to make a little extra money. Also, Amy told me that every Monday, she goes to line dancing class with friends, and she invited me to join them! We may be seeing pictures of that soon.

Life is good, my musical cup-and-saucer loving dudes.

Out and About

My day opened with Hubby leaping from the bed, whispering "It's foggy!", throwing on some clothes, grabbing his camera and heading for Fallen Leaf Lake Park. He snagged some beauties:

Meanwhile, I ate breakfast with Sandy at Shmack Bear Diner. Tasty, with HUGE biscuits! It's always fun and therapeutic to hang with Sandy. She's so lovely.

Then: Hoyt Arboretum with Hubby. 

Madame le Ducklips

A drive through Portland downtown, then home, to a "nap" (chill in bed and watch Tick Tock)(and yes I'm misspelling on purpose)

Then BIKES and LONGBOARDS with almost the whole gang. H & Alexis called as we were getting ready to bike to the park, and raced over from Shmader Joe's just in time to join us. What spectacular timing! Everyone had a blast playing Groundies, then we all got hot and tired and came home. 

To finish up this epic Sunday: BREAKFAST BURRITOS and BROWNIES.

Life is good, my people!

Out Gigging

...ran into this cute kid. 

Earlier in the week, I set myself a goal to earn a certain daily dollar amount, and decided to pick up a couple of old gigging activities to make that happen. I didn't quite make it but it was a good first day.

Other things I did: worked till 10:45, ate pizza for dinner, crocheted more of the cherry speckle blanket.

Bonus Day Off

Since I stayed home sick yesterday, the powers-that-be suggested I stay home today too to KICK THIS THING. I don't blame them. 

Relaxing is happening. Here's hoping I feel like a million damn dollarrrrrrrrrssss tomorrow.

The Coziness

Today I woke up and my voice was mostly gone, and Hubby wasn't feeling great either, so we had a day at home. In between rests and TV, we cleaned out the fireplace, laid out the new autumn welcome mat (Costco!) and located the candle holders. 

(Hubby wanted to put the rug outside on our front step. NO. It's way too cute, and too white.)

In my crystal ball I see many visits to IKEA for their huge things of tea lights. I think I'll also be clearing off the mantle to make space for allllll the little round glass candle holders ... I should probably check the batteries in the smoke alarm. 

Also: I organized some of the yarn. 

Is it time to join a support group? Yarn Buyers Anonymous? Vacuum Bag Storage Obsessors? Something?

Well, back to crocheting.

Ladies Who Snack

HAPPY BIRTHDAY M!!!

First: some front yard pumpkin shenanigans! 

Cover ....

.... Discover!!

Later: Party Time! C & K took on decorating duties while I made cake and cleaned the kitchen. M ended up making the entree but since she loves to cook and it was her birthday, she insisted that she wanted to do it. I decided not to feel guilty about it.