I’ve  learned that there are people who just choose to be angry and annoyed. But the ones who are quietly annoyed are worse than the ones openly angry. It’s like they’re silently judging you. They chose to attempt to train me on the register last night. I’ve worked a register before, but that was like 20+ years ago. It’s only the technology that is different so I did pick up on it pretty quickly. This girl was so pissy standing in my line as I scanned her item and gave her the total. It was like she was thinking, “ugh, this stupid old woman has to be MY cashier? She’s going to do this all wrong and she is so slow. She’s obviously stupid if she has to work here.” So I responded with my own thoughts, “look girlie, I’m college educated and I’ve got more professional experience than you’ve got years on this planet. Get over your damned self and be happy you’ve got money to buy shit you don’t really need.”

Yeah I’m sure she was most likely thinking, “I’ve got places to go and things to do hurry this up so I can get out of here.” But that’s not quite how it felt to me. Her sighs of impatience hit where it hurts.  However, the next customer in line started with, “I’ll be much friendlier than her.”  So I know it wasn’t just me being over sensitive.

It’s been a very long time since I’ve worked retail. Standing for 5+ hours non-stop is NOT cool. My legs, ankles and back ache after about the first 3 hours of working. At the end of the night when I sit down in my car I can feel every muscle/joint in my body screaming. How do you re-train your body to handle this kind of thing? Does anyone have tips on soothing these aching parts? I’ve put insoles into my gym shoes (yes I get to wear my gym shoes to work), I’ve gotten some compression socks. What else can I do? The past few days I’ve worked I haven’t taken my 10 min break because I’m afraid if I do sit down it will be even more difficult to get up and stand for the rest of my shift. Any help with this kind of thing would be deeply appreciated.

So sick

Ungh… I got to spend my new year with Michael Westen, Sam Axe and Fiona Glenanne. That’s right I was home on New Years Eve watching the Burn Notice marathon. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I had several party invitations. It’s just that I was horribly sick all week long. On Wednesday I was determined to make myself well so I could attend my dear friend Kate’s birthday party for New Years. I knew it would be a wonderful time and I haven’t seen her in much too long. I was certain I’d be better by Thursday. However, by about 3pm on Wednesday a new and very unpleasant symptom emerged. I was hopeful it was just something I ate that did not agree with me, but as I tried to figure out what it could have been that I’d eaten I realized that I haven’t eaten much of anything that could disagree with me. Chicken soup, chicken pot-pie, toast, crackers, applesauce…. none of these things could cause THAT. Then yet another night of non-stop coughing in bed until 4am. Giving up and sitting on the couch until 8am and finally falling asleep for 2 uninterrupted hours of sleep. Yeah, Thursday morning I just knew going anywhere would be a very bad idea indeed. Fortunately Michael and Sam were on to keep me entertained. I flipped to BBC America in time to catch Graham Norton’s New Year’s Eve show, followed by his two Dr Who specials. I caught a glimpse of Dick Clark (he does not look well) and then saw Janet Davies count down to the new year in Chicago. All the while coughing and hacking up a lung or two.

Allow me to tell you how NOT to get sick. Don’t leave your house…EVER. Don’t let anyone from outside into your house. Hose everything down with Lysol before it enters your home. And for God’s sake, if you see any children, RUN! FLEE! They are walking Petri dishes of germs and sickness! I was doing so well until I went out and became social the past two weeks. Never again will I leave my home, it’s just not safe out there.