My Halloween Weekend

I went out of town Friday afternoon to babysit my nephew. He and I went to something that night called "Trunk or Treat" where there were games, candy, etc. We had some chili on Frito's.  He was Luigi this year. There was at least one other Luigi around and multiple Marios. (I have a picture on my phone of him with one of his friends who was dressed as Mario.) He got his face painted twice: the first time being a red-and-white mushroom over one eye; the second time a yellow mushroom with black stripes over the other eye. (The latter was inspired by the Wii game "Super Mario Galaxy".) He talked me into getting a snowflake painted on me as I was dressed as a waitress on her way to work a shift on a winter night. (I was wearing a waitress-like dress with jeans and a jacket.)

Yesterday, he and I had strudels for breakfast and pepperoni mini-pizzas for lunch. He played some "Super Mario Galaxy" which I watched. Sometime during the afternoon, he and I went to the park. In the evening, we went to some festival at the local rec center. There were games, a spook house, a hay maze, and inflatable playsets. I didn't wear a costume for that, but he wore his Luigi costume once again (but minus the gloves he wore the night before as this time, it'd be easier to do stuff without the gloves).

Now, I'm back home. In the next hour or two, I will probably put on my waitress costume in case any trick-or-treaters show up. If I'm lucky enough, I might stay up past midnight tonight to start on the challenge known as National Novel Writing Month, or Nano Wrimo. (I'll maybe type an intro that I have in mind, but then I'll turn in as I need to have some energy for my work at the Doggie Bag tomorrow. It's a good guess that putting away the Halloween stuff, or whatever's left of it, will be on the "To Do" list.) If I end up going to sleep before midnight, I'll see about getting some writing in when I get up in the morning provided I have time. Failing that, I'll start after I get home from the Doggie Bag.

Homegirl Thursday: Week 2

Most of what I accomplished today was laundry, loading/unloading the dishwasher, and sweeping up dog hair from the floor.

I need to do some packing tonight as I will be going to my sister's sometime tomorrow. I've got some clothes set aside for that.

By the way, be sure to catch the premiere of my new miniseries of posts, Miss Scissors: Reading is the Key, tomorrow on my reading blog, RAB-PIA. I'll be sure to let you know when new parts of the series are posted.

Doggie Bag Days Season 2: Day 39

I've mostly spent the day putting out clothes, books and "knick-knacks". The section for Men's shirts that will run for a dollar or less has been set.  Also, the manager has marked some of the clothes as "free" per the request of the HSP.

Normally, I'd be going in on Friday, but as I will be going out of town sometime in the afternoon on Friday, I've gotten clearance from the manager to take that day off. I'm guessing Monday will consist of clearing out whatever is left of anything Halloween to make room for stuff pertaining to Thanksgiving and possibly Christmas.

Around Town Tuesday: Week 2

The only "out of the house" stuff I managed to accomplish today was to get some clothes to Salvation Army that turned out to be too big for me and take recycling over to the campus recycling bins. I know it's going to sound weird to do this in the evening, but I think at some point I will print something out for an application that accounts for periods of unemployment and turn both of those pieces of paper in tonight so that I can say that I did one more thing towards my job search if anyone asks.

Doggie Bag Days Season 2: Day 38

The first major priority today was to get fashion show items onto the racks that they normally went on. It turns out, though, that there will be another fashion show sometime in January (barring unforseen circumstances of course).

After that, my attention was directed to the bargain room. The rack that had been used to hold fashion show items was moved closer to the kids' bargain rack and is now being devoted to pants. Another set of racks is being devoted to ladie's tops. How the rest will be placed remains to be seen.

Some customers checked out the bargain room (though I don't know whether or not any of them bought anything there). One said she'd need to check it out even more when she had more time.

I don't know what all will await me on Wednesday.

Belated Homegirl Thursday Account For Week 1

I forgot to do an account of Homegirl Thursday this past Thursday. If I can remember correctly, I did laundry and dishes, and I think I swept the floor some. I think I also did some stuff on Facebook, but that's all I can recall right off.

I'll try to do better about the accounts from here on out.

Doggie Bag Days Season 2: Day 37

The big priority today was to get some of the displays stocks and the store presentable for a "grand re-opening" we're having tomorrow. (We're also having a fashion show tomorrow.)  Basically, various things were put out, including stuff for the "bargain room". In the afternoon, per the manager's request, I rearranged some of the clothing racks so that shirts, etc. of similar colors were together.

I don't know if I'll go to tomorrow's fashion show or not. It'll depend on what it is I'll be doing. I have no clue what will happen on Monday.

Doggie Bag Days Season 2: Day 36

We got some space freed up in the back room (finally).  Again, some of the clothes have been priced at a dollar or less and thus placed in the bargain section.

There's going to be a fashion show of Doggie Bag clothes this weekend. I don't know if I'll be able to go or not. For said show, some clothes had been set aside, and for now, they are not for sale.

There's still a lot of clothing left to get hung, tagged, etc., but at least it's not as crowded as it had been.

Like My New Profile Picture?

I got it on either Microsoft Works or Microsoft Word. It took a while for me to figure it out, but I had to copy and paste the image to the program "Paint" in order to save it in a format that would be acceptable for Blogger.

I chose this picture partly because of the Halloween season but also because it has a cat in it (and cats are my favorite animal). I will likely change the picture after Halloween.

In case you're wondering why I did this, I was getting tired of the default "blank face" in the picture part of my profile and have decided to try something new.

Around Town Tuesday: Week 1

I wasn't able to get anything job search related done because of timing (though I might do some online applications later). However, I donated some clothes to the Salvation Army (I'd donate to the Doggie Bag if we weren't already tight on space) and took some cans and bottles to the college campus recycling bins.

On the way to the campus, I passed by one of those auto garages. An empty Mountain Dew can was laying just inside said garage on the ground. I initially passed it, but after a few steps, I thought better of it and picked it up. Someone who worked there said, "Thanks. Good call."

Next week, I might do an errand list for just what it is I wish to accomplish when I'm out an about.

Doggie Bag Days Season 2: Day 35

As you may have gathered from previous posts, I'm normally in the back tagging and hanging up clothes. However, I've had a change of pace today.

We've started having the middle room devoted to clothing costing a dollar or less. Any kids' clothing that was higher than that was taking to the main sales floor. The two ladie's  slacks sections have been merged as well as the racks for ladie's medium tops. All ladie's jeans have been moved to one of the racks devoted to ladie's slacks.

Now that the bargain room has been started, I'll be able to get whatever summer clothing has been held onto hung up and tagged. I'm hoping the bargain room does work out.

Went To A Parade This Morning

This morning was my hometown's annual Homecoming parade, with bands, floats, and a lot more.  I happened to run into a former Doggie Bag colleague (who now works at our local branch of the Salvation Army) while I was there and watched the parade with her. 

The first time I went to one of those parades was when I was in fifth grade. When I was in sixth grade, I didn't get to go because my mom had to work. From when I was in seventh grade until I finished high school, I was in marching band and therefore in the parade. The first two years I was in college, I was in Santa Fe with my mom and stepdad and thus didn't get to go to the parade. I went to the college in my current town for three years and got to see the parade for all three of them. When I was living with my dad last year in St. Louis, I didn't think I'd be able to make it to the parade or any more ever again. However, some health problems he developed caused me to have to return to my mom, and I was back the weekend before the parade.

The college Homecoming game is today as well, but I'm not going to that. When I was a student, I was able to get in for free. When I was in high school, I was in one of the bands playing in the mass band at halftime. As I'm not a student there anymore, I'd have to pay my way in, and I can't afford it. I don't care much for football anyway.

I doubt I'll be going out again today, but that could end up changing on short notice.

Doggie Bag Days Season 2: Day 34

One of the most interesting things I did today was stuff a pair of overalls, a polo shirt, and a flannel with some clothes from the recycling pile. It was for the closest we have to a scarecrow.

The manager said that the whole thing with stuffing a scarecrow with clothes came was a tradition that she grew up on, and it was either last night or some other night that she had a dream that involved doing something like that. At first, she wasn't sure where she would put a scarecrow but then realized that it could be done in the window.

In the last couple of hours before closing time, she and her boyfriend and I worked on the window display. It's a Halloween theme with costumes, black shirts, orange shirts, and more. There's even a smoke machine involved. (The person on the register joked that the manager needed to stop smoking. I don't know if she actually does smoke or not.)

We did get a couple of donations today, but I really do think they are starting to calm down. I've more or less run out of clothes to deal with.

Coming Next Week: Around Town Tuesdays And Homegirl Thursdays

If you have been reading my previous posts, you would know that on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I'm at the Doggie Bag, leaving Tuesdays and Thursdays for other things.

I usually do laundry on Thursdays. Thus, it makes it harder for me to get out of the house soon enough to do anything in connection to my job search. Tuesday is an easier day for it (along with anything else I have to do outside the home that day).

Therefore, I have decided that as of next week, I would have Around Town Tuesdays and Homegirl Thursdays.

The agenda for Around Town Tuesdays would include any or all of the following but not be limited to:

• picking up/dropping off/checking on job applications
• sending things in the mail
• taking recycling to campus bins
• any shopping

The agenda for Homegirl Thursdays would include any or all of the following but not be limited to:

• Laundry
• Load/unload dishwasher as needed
• Other housework indoor and/or outdoor
• Anything writing-related
• Catch up on email
• Job search stuff that can be done from home
• RAB-PIA reading

As an adult, I try to be productive with my days and feel bad when I fail to do so.  So, I'm hoping my new plan will bring some structure into these days.

Doggie Bag Days Season 2: Day 33

This morning, there were donations waiting for us out back. Nobody that was on duty had a key to unlock the back, so one other person and I went around to get the donations and carry them through the front.

I was able to get shirts, dresses, etc. tagged but ran out of the proper hangers off and on. (So, some of the shirts that are tagged aren't on hangers.) After I ran out of shirts, dresses, outfits, etc. to tag/hang, I started working on pants. I put them on hangers, but the last time I checked, they were not to be tagged until further notice. (I hope nobody tags any of them tomorrow by mistake.)

I can't say for sure whether the donations are dying down or not as there could be a lot more by Friday.

What I've Accomplished Today

Today was somewhat productive for me today. Here's what I got done:

1. Took cans and bottles to campus recycling bins
2. Bought Dad a card (birthday in a couple of days)
3. Picked up an application to Bath & Body Works
4. Loaded and started dishwasher after lunch
5. Signed and mailed Dad's card

I don't know what else I'll be doing today.

Doggie Bag Days Season 2: Day 32

I was on the register within the first hour of the store being open as the person who had been scheduled for it was apparently unable to make it for some reason. When I was ringing up the first purchase, the register wasn't working quite right and wouldn't open. It turned out that when I had turned it on, I had it on the wrong setting by mistake. (Bad Moderate Mouse. That I'm not on the register very often these days or that having it turned off upon closing and turning it back on upon opening is a new policy does not change the fact that any mistake that I make there is counterproductive to my attempt to redeem myself within the context of a place of business until my next paid job. In fact, I think it'd be easier on various people in my life if I could get my you-know-what together and learn to stop making mistakes for the rest of my life.)

There is still a lot of clothing left to hang up, but most of it is pants as well as any summer clothing on reserve until the manager is ready to start the bargain section that she wanted to do. We haven't gotten a lot of donations today. One of the few that we got included some used toothbrushes. The manager decided to trash those. (I might suggest mailing them to the military as they like to clean latrines with them.)  We had one small clothing donation close to the last minute. Whoever is in the back room tomorrow will at least have a starting point.

At one point, I stepped away from hanging/tagging clothes as the manager needed the purse section cleared out temporarily to make room for some lamps and the lamps to be wiped down. (There were some individual ones plus two pairs of identical ones.)

Unless we have yet another donation ambush, maybe we'll be caught up by next month.

Been Yet Another Slow Saturday

Today's been a slow Saturday, as a lot of my Saturdays tend to be.

One of the things I did this morning was get some Voodoo Chicken Salad served in Cafe World as part of an order someone else is doing. After that I got some BBQ chicken on the stoves as part of said order as well. It was done in five hours. After serving up that batch, I "cooked" some more. It should be done after dinner tonight, after which I'll prepare another round of the chicken salad, which should be done in the morning before I head off to church.

I skipped breakfast because of timing (though I did at least have coffee). For lunch, I had a piece of leftover Chicken Cordon Bleu and Frito's. For dinner, we're having chili and beer (more specifically, Molson Canadian).

I've been surfing the Net off and on, and I've gotten my bible passage for the day read. That's all I've gotten done today so far.

Doggie Bag Days Season 2: Day 31

It's been another day of clothing to tag and hang up. For the second time (at least for me), the manager wasn't able to make it in right away so her boyfriend came by on her behalf to let me and another person in. (It turns out that the manager is opening up a store of her own somewhere in town as of tomorrow. I guess she had a lot of prep work to do for that.)

Remember that sweater I had told you about from Wednesday. I brought that (as well as a pink collar that someone else had found) to the attention of the HSP, and apparently it will be used for a "style show" that she's planning. She was also in the backroom for a little bit and pulled a few things that she couldn't see selling (such as some out of date dresses).

We have officially run out of space to hang stuff. So, I've had to kind of lay stuff across the racks of the back room. Hopefully, the manager will be in a better position next week to get stuff put out as the donations are just going to keep coming.

Such has been my day. Who knows what'll happen next week?

Doggie Bag Days Season 2: Day 30

More clothes to tag and hang up plus more came in. Hopefully, there will be a lot of clothing sales made sometime soon as space in the back room is tighter than ever. I'm lucky if I don't completely run out of spaces to hang stuff up, but we'll see what happens.

In one of the bags that someone went through today was a white sweater made for a big dog. (Think lab, German Shepard, or something along those lines.) It'd maybe fit my stepdad's dog, my stepdad is SO against putting clothes on animals. The HSP might be interested in it for one of the shelter dogs.

That's all I have to say for now. If you'll excuse me, I have to return to a conversation on Facebook that someone else started that I have been juggling with this post. (Don't want to hurt their feelings, you know?)

Doggie Bag Days Season 2: Day 29

Once again, there were more clothes to be hung up and tagged.  One of the items that came in today was a jacket or vest that looked like something a small dog would wear outside in the winter. (It even had a slit for the leash.) I brought it to the attention of the HSP to see if she'd be interested in it for one of the dogs over at the Humane Society. She accepted it and said something about how there should be some like that with "adopt me" signs on them.

There are still a lot of clothes waiting for me, but this may die down as it gets colder and there are fewer rummage sales going on.

For a while, the theme for our window display has been black-and-white. As of today, the manager has decided to change it to beige or comparative colors. Who knows what the next theme will be?

Will Really Have To Pull An All-Nighter This Time

I've got a project going on in Cafe World where I once again have to serve certain dishes a certain number of times. The only one I have left is called Pastilla, which has to be served 146 times. (So far I've served it 84 times.) I have three rounds of it that will be ready at about 12:30 AM my time and a couple of others a couple of hours after that. I missed the time limit for the three-star rating, which would allow me to keep the dishes for this particular order (which are available for a limited time), but I'm hoping to be able to finish for the two-star rating which will qualify me for another order.

Even though I have church in the morning, I'll have to stay up late to wait for some of the rounds of Pastilla so that I can get those served and prepare even more rounds. I'll also have to find ways to pass the time until then. Maybe I'll find something else to do online.

Been Playing A YouTube Video A Bunch Of Times Today

For some reason, the Depeche Mode song "Enjoy the Silence" got into my head. So, I played the video for it a bunch of times today. There are two versions that I know of, but this is the one I've been playing the most. It's the one where one of the guys is dressed like a king and keeps walking around with a small folding chair which he sits in once in a while.

For some reason, if a song gets stuck in my head, I like to play it a bunch of times on YouTube. Crazy, I know.

Doggie Bag Days Season 2: Day 28

I didn't do my account yesterday, so I'm doing it today.

Another day was spent tagging and hanging up clothes. The manager has decided that anything that comes in that is summery but otherwise in okay shape should stay for now as she wants to have some sort of bargain section.

Some of the bags of clothes that were in the "recycling" corner had to be gone back over in order to salvage items on which the gun had been jumped as well as summery stuff that was still good. (I had originally put a wedding dress in one of said bags because of a spot that was on it. It might pass for Halloween though, and that was one of the things salvaged.)

I guess as of next Thursday, we'll be staying open until as late as eight at night. If that's going to be for every day, I might stay for an extra hour or two on the days that I'm there to better the chances of getting caught up. (For that matter, if staying super late or going in super early was feasible, I would, given how much there is to take care of at this point. I've even contemplated discontinuing bringing a lunch with me and toughing it out until dinnertime at home. I take mainly a sandwich or a leftover with me. The less I have to eat, the less time it'll take to eat it, which means more time to take care of stuff.)

There'll probably still be a lot left me to do on Monday unless whoever is scheduled to work the back room today is able to put a dent in it and nothing else shows up.