Category retail
Change
I took the above picture this morning as I went on my morning walk. Only a few weeks ago, the mountains were decorated in orange, red and rust hues. Now, they’re just brown and bare. The lake still has its usual population of waterfowl, including geese, ducks and swans (they always class up any body […]
Sometime Last Year…
Last year, I came into work at Phipps the Sunday after Black Friday. For reasons not quite understood, I had Black Friday and Saturday off. Still, I didn’t complain. It’d been my first holiday off in God knows how long. On my way from the time clock to the Holiday Department, my boss stopped me. […]
Resignation
Setting Off On My New Life Journey Because my new position will be at a nonprofit, I had to go through several rounds of approval before I was hired. First, it was the finance committee. Then it was the executive committee, followed by full board approval. It was a painstakingly agonizing process, believe me. Every […]
A Slight Case Of Freaking Out
I’m reaching that point in my life where I’m trying to have a little faith in myself and my abilities. It’s been rough, if you’ve read this blog. And I’ve sure been trying awfully hard to turn my life around. It’s had its fits and starts, but lately I’ve been on something of an upswing. […]
‘Tis The Season
I chose the above illustration today because it accurately reflects the intersection of two holidays: Christmas and Halloween. See, the guy in the upper part of the illustration is dressed up as an ET/alien/offworld creature pretending to be Santa. Or is it the other way around? As shopper desperately scrounged around the remains of Toy […]
Courage In The Line Of Defense
Evil monster known to attack trick-or-treaters on a specific day of the year. Another day, another holiday at Phipps. Each one pretty much goes the same. We set the department month before any given holiday, people complain it’s too soon to put up [fill in the blank] decorations or purchase items for [fill in the […]
That Time of The Year…
“BUT I WANT IT!!! I WANT IT!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA….” The sharp piercing screams nearly blow out my eardrums. I can’t see who it is, but it sounds like a little boy around 6-ish. “I said NO,” snapped the person who I assumed to be his mother. “I already told you. You have several. I’m not getting you […]
The End of The Beginning
What a couple of weeks it’s been! That’s mainly why I haven’t written in ages. And where do I even begin? Let’s start with the car. I had a trusty, faithful Hyundai Santa Fe since 2013. That thing’s been everywhere. Took it on an amazing road trip from New York State up to St. John’s, Newfoundland. […]
Transitions
It’s July. Kids just got out of school. Summer is upon us! It’s July. And the retail industry says, “Kids will go back to school soon! Summer’s over!” So here I am, in Phipp’s, pulling down all of the shady patio umbrellas, deck furniture, picnic tables, beach chairs, casual dining ware and all other accoutrements […]
Stuck
I’ve been feeling like the above picture lately – gray, desolate, remote. And I can’t seem to shake the funk I’ve been mired in. It all started a few weeks ago when a promising job opening came my way. I even had a connection that opened the door to an interview. I arrived early (but […]
Confessions of A Middle-Age Woman 