Too Old

Too old, too tired...but not dead yet!

So I hounded AC Moore and got an interview two weeks ago. After passing the background check I was put on the schedule this week at $8/hour. I was dreading working there on Black Friday, but what can you do?

I had put in an application at Joann Fabrics, but they weren't hiring at the time. Then over Columbus Day weekend we were picking up a few things there and they were insanely busy! So being obnoxious I asked if they were hiring. The manager's eyes lit up, she asked a few questions and then had me fill out another application. Last Monday I popped in to drop off my resume, just for kicks, and we made an appointment for an interview on Saturday morning. The interview really wasn't one, just letting me know they were looking for a closing key holder, would I be interested? It paid $9/hour...While I love the store and it's size I wasn't sure about having keys again. Walden was a madhouse at closing. But I said yes and we scheduled me for work this week...which conflicted with AC Moore. Sigh.

After a lot of thought and talking it over with Frank I was almost positive I wanted to go with Joann's, but just in case I held off on burning any bridges until I made it though my first shift. Which was last night.

The people are nice, I know the product and closing procedures have gotten a heck of a lot easier since I last did them, but 5 hours on my feet was a killer on my back and soles. As I crawled into the car at 10:15 I wasn't so sure I would be able to get back out. I got home, my sweetie had saved some dinner for me so we sat down and recapped our days. I took an Aleve and headed to bed where I promptly passed out.

Getting up this morning was ugly. I woke up at 5 and considered getting up and doing some yoga to stretch out sore muscles, but miraculously they were in pretty good shape, so I fell back to sleep. The alarm went off at 6, I ignored it. Again at 6:15, snoozed. 6:24, snoozed, 6:33...turned off. At 6:50 I crawled out of bed just before Frank was about to come check on me.

I stumbled into the bathroom to clean up, put toothpaste on my toothbrush and, I swear, almost brushed my armpit. I wasn't tired, not at all! I managed to get the brush where it belonged and get the rest of me ready, throw together some lunch and stumble out the door clutching a cup of coffee like a life preserver. I was only 10 minutes late for work! Whoo hoo! I get to do it again tonight. I'm not sure I'll survive.

I never thought I'd say this, but thank God I have my trainer on Wednesday and get a night off! I'll be back there on Thursday and by then should have a better feel for things. In the meantime I'm thinking of selling a kidney, if anyone's in the market.

In search of...

So since Julyish our work hours have been cut from 40 down to 32. The first 3 months were tight, but not horrible. I started noodling around looking for other job possibilities when the news first came down, but in September I got a bit more serious about it and started thinking about a part-time job to make ends meet.

I quickly learned that when looking for part-time work in retail you have to be obnoxious, almost stalkerish. Remember all those youthful moments when you tried to restrain yourself from calling that person you liked too much? Did you know you could channel that energy into a job search? I knew it would come in handy some day.

So before I learned this but had put in a few applications and hadn't heard anything, I broke down and answered an ad to work as one of those people who hangs out in the mall and bugs people to do surveys. I got to the mall about 1/2 an hour early so I popped over to Things Remembered to find something for my new soon to be nephew (Megan had a healthy baby boy of 9/24/09). While making my selection I learned they were hiring so I took an application.

I went to the interview where I found chaos. Their internet was down and all hell had broken loose. People were collating papers on the lobby floor, some woman was barking about FedEx labels and a guy was on the phone with Verizon trying to fix things. It turns out the barking woman was the one I was to interview with, and she forgot I was coming (now I call to confirm interview times, lesson #1). I offered to reschedule, but she was insistent on doing this now so I settled in with a huge stack of papers and filled out an application while people ran around outside the cubby I was in.

Just about the time I hit the W-4 and started wondering why I would fill this out if I hadn't been hired yet the woman came bustling in asking if I knew what a modem looked like. Why yes, I do. Next thing I know I'm on the phone with Verizon. I introduced myself to Sylvia, the tech, and we both had a good laugh about my not actually working there. As I climbed on a chair, in heels, to look at their modem hub I told her if she heard a scream to hang up and dial 911. I got the new modem hooked up and gave the phone back to the gentleman who had been talking with her so he could do the computer testing, as I assumed I shouldn't be on their machines.

Not long after the woman I was to interview came in demanding to know if I thought he could handle this. After reminding her I didn't know him, I told her it wasn't that difficult and he should be fine. She left and soon was yelling in the hall again, and came back complaining about the "China-men" next door. It was at this point I began to wonder if she had a problem with the young black gentleman who was working on getting the internet back up. Great.

So it ended up that they offered me $10/hour and wanted me to start that Sunday. In a fit of desperation I agreed, but as the day went on and I told the story a few times, and talked things over with Frank, I decided to decline. If the best part of the job is going to be accosting people in the mall, well I don't think that's for me. I did put that application into Things Remembered though.

Things Remembered

No not the store, though that may be a post in the future.

It's funny how you can put things out of your mind. We've been turning the attic into a sewing room so I've been sorting through boxes. Yesterday was toys from my childhood, some of which went to my new nephew Andrew, some will go to Charlotte and Molly, others...well they are too beat up to pass on, but too precious in my memory to let go. I guess they can just hit the furnace with me when I die.

But then there were the pictures. Just framed prints from a friend of mine who passed away in 2004. I'd taken some down (I have quite a few) to make room for other things. As I went through these I decided to hang them in the attic. But among these is also the memorial picture I put together of him, for a few of us who knew more than just the angsty guy. It made me miss him again, and have that little moment of "how could I have stopped?" A silly thought we all get in those situations.

Then Friday I got a note from his publisher, they had put together some of his introductions and fan mail in a little volume, proceeds going to his daughter's college fund, so of course I bought one. It will be here soon, and I'll read it, feel sad, mad and lucky at the same time again. Just funny how that sort of thing lumps up. And in October which has always been a nostalgic month for me. I think it's the wood smoke.

Anyhow, just felt like sharing...now on to thinking about Halloween and the fun to be had...