Unfortunately I had to go to work at the retail job. Starting your year working, is a good thing. But by 2pm the day had turned to shit. The girl scheduled to be the cashier for the evening was a no-call/no-show. Well….she called….but at like 5pm. 3 hours AFTER she was meant to start. Since I was the only person other than the manager trained to work the register, I was the cashier for the evening. So my department (apparel – which is like half the store) was the biggest trash heap of the new decade.  And the guys working the floor did very little to keep up with it while I rang on the register for 4 hours non-stop (yeah, I didn’t get a lunch break.)

So I just want to say this, if you have a job, whether it is working retail or at a factory for minimum wage, helping a friend for free, at a company where they pay you a full on salary, or whatever… You have a responsibility not only to the employer, but the other employees to show up and do the job they have chosen to employ you to do. If you feel this job isn’t worthy of you, then quit so they can hire someone who will bother to show up. I don’t care if you just didn’t feel like coming in,  if your car was stolen, if you’re really sick or if you’re still too high to show up. When you know you’re not coming in you call and tell them. You give them PLENTY of time to find someone else. You don’t make them track your ass down through other employees, because you’ve changed your number. In this age of cell phones, even if your phone was stolen or dead, you can find a phone to call on.  If your car REALLY was stolen, then you knew HOURS before you were scheduled that you  wouldn’t make it in. Hell, the house you were staying in had people with phones and possibly even a land line to call your employer with to say, “dude, my car was stolen, I’m in the city I wont be in.” If you’re old enough to own a car, you’re old enough to act like a responsible adult, especially where your job is concerned.

You may live with Mommy & Daddy, but you are old enough to be employed, own a car and drink… be old enough to take responsibility for your actions so that you don’t screw other people over.

Yeah…. happy new year…. I’m starting it off pissed…. thanks a lot you self absorbed child…

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.

Please spread the word! I really want this film to be a success.