| | This journal is relocating elsewhere on the LJ planet. If you read it casually and want to know my new username, e-mail me. Otherwise, it's been nice knowing you. | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment   |
| I'm going to talk about something that makes me happy/doesn't piss me off--fashion.
I'm really getting into this trendy thing. I was once all about multi-function pieces, but now I'm not feeling so bad about buying the $40 tunic sweater for many reasons...we'll get to that later.
Fall stuff I'm absolutely loving:
*tunic sweaters/shirts. Talk about an incredibly flattering style. Tunics hug you in the right places and forgive you in those pesky other areas. They look so good with jeans. Plus, I have a sort of abnormal sized torso (as in, a lot of shirts are too short on me), so tunics suit me just fine :)
*stripes. I love stripes and I wear them even when they're not "in season". I recently bought what I call my "jailbird" shirt...it's tunic-length with black & grey stripes. It's a tad low plunge, so I'm wearing a tank under it. I bought this killer yellow gold chain with a monster pendant on it just to go with that shirt. It's that faux rocker chick thing.
*black & white into fall. There are so many awesome ways to mix and match the usually boring colors this year. I like the Victorian blouses (except for all those menacing buttons).
*menswear. I'm a huge vest fan. There's a set at Kohl's that I'm dying over, except it's in a brand that's cut unusually small (i.e., a size 6 would probably just fit a size 2).
*chunky belts. I've seen so many interesting ways to wear those belt lookalikes that flatter your body (like, make you look smaller than you really are). I'm in search of a wide white belt to go with my tunic sweater.
Fall stuff I'm skittish about:
*leggings. It's a good look if you have the legs for it. See, they look really cool with a mini, but I, sadly, do not have mini legs. Maybe if I work on it a lot harder I can get some leggings before the season's out and it's too cold. I'm really trying to get serious about my weight because right now I'm feeling like a tremendous fat lard.
*minis. Some chicks just shouldn't wear 'em. I'll leave it at that.
*metallics. You really have to have the perfect skin tone and body to pull that off. I mean, it takes some confidence too, but you really have to have the oomph to wear a metallic anything.
Shoes: I'm digging wedges and I'm also trying to get into the wear-a-really-bright-color shoe thing. I think I'm going to get a pair of sky-high red stilettos to go with my black dress. Or maybe some silver ones...haven't decided yet.
Shopping's pretty much the thing that makes me happy right now. It's like my raison d'etre...reading Elle, Lucky, & Shop Etc. religiously then trying the tips myself. I've developed a costly magazine addiction. Mags I have to have when they come out:
People, Cosmo, Elle, Lucky, Shop Etc., Life & Style, Marie Claire.
Otherwise, I had an uneventful b-day. My grandparents called and asked what I did. I wasn't thinking my day was so sad until I told them what I did: took my brothers to finish their school clothes shopping, picked up Mom, finished my brothers' school supplies shopping, fixed dinner. I mean, it was a typical b-day. I hate being pampered when all it is is getting a year older. I like doing stuff. I washed the dishes yesterday. Anything to keep busy. I didn't feel a particular urge to drink or anything, so I didn't. I mean, when I turned 18 I bought a lottery ticket. But you know, those are kind of two different things. When I blow $10 on lottery, I have a chance of walking away happy with more money. If I blow $10 on alcohol, I might walk away with alcohol depression. Plus the liver damage and stuff. I just seem to be in a motivational slump of late. I don't even want to go to work sometimes, but then I think of all the things they say about people who just don't show up for work. I'd rather not be the butt of insult.
Oh well. I'll just continue downing my caffeine-saturated chromium diet pills, lose more weight, and chill. Someday I'll have a killer bod...that I'll probably still hide under tons of clothing. Of course, I'm not taking the max dosage. Maybe I do need to up it to 6 pills a day. It's just not coming off fast enough. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Let's just say our family thing in Maryland this weekend was...eventful. But you know, it was bound to happen. It's the combo of my family just being full of assertive people who say what's on their mind...and lots of beer.
Anyway, I've acquired this borderline-sexy top (in that, cleavage is sort of visible, but through the lacing...how hot is that?). I was mainly excited b/c it's tunic-style, which actually fits me appropriately. I think I have a somewhat long torso...most tops are a little short on me, especially button-down shirts. Maybe it's the boobs...I dunno.
I'm also set to acquire my first halter-style outfit. It's a dress by Apt. 9 & it's a black wrap type one. At first I was skittish...on the hanger, it looked flimsy and very revealing. But I saw it on a mannequin and thought, I can fill that dress in nicely. And I do, if I say so myself. It's on sale for $29.99 right now, but there's also a blue one I want. I'm thinking it will be a good dress for the 21 festivities (I must go out to celebrate). Actually, my mom & her friends from work want to take me out for my b-day, too. I'm going to have a Lindsay Lohan-style bash, I guess...it just keeps rolling on and on for a week! I'm starting to think I'll need to request off August 15 & 16 (just in case, you know).
I learned how to work in the cash office today. It was tons of paperwork, but it was actually kind of fun. I like numbers (maybe I should go into finance...). It was basically a lot of counting, signing in/out, and computer work...but fun nonetheless. Friday morning I get to enter all the money in; today I just watched and assisted. I can't say much more than that...a security issue, you know?
Tomorrow should be fun with a capital NOT FUN. I'm doing the jewelry scheduled count. Basically, I have a list of types of jewelry I have to scan...and I have to scan every piece (example: if I'm on sterling silver rings, I have to scan all 28*(&^Fj32946&*T^*&6 one of them. I guess I'll try to do that between 6 and 8 in the morning to avoid those pesky customers and their lazy paws...leaving my jewelry in places it doesn't go. It's not like the dept. is that large...surely you could at least put the earrings back in the same area they were before. Of course, that would be much too daunting a task for the average person, I guess.
I'm not looking forward to next weekend at all. It's tax-free weekend, which is the one event that gives everyone a reason to quit. I mean, you really feel like walking out. Of course this year is different...I'm POS supervisor Friday & Saturday nights. So basically I'll prob be on a register all night ringing out these stupid people and I won't get any of my work done. I just really don't see a point in dealing with all the hassles of tax-free when it's only for 5%. Maybe if you were buying a computer it would matter, but not for $50. | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| I'm longing for a new VB bag now. See, spending my money is between three things right now: buying a new camera, buying a super cute sundress, or buying a new VB bag. Here are the new [ Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<a [...] http://www.verabradley.com/site/store/colors.aspx?filter>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.] I'm longing for a new VB bag now. See, spending my money is between three things right now: buying a new camera, buying a super cute sundress, or buying a new VB bag. Here are the new <a href=""http://www.verabradley.com/Site/Store/Colors.aspx?filter=1">patterns</a>.
I'm really digging Windsor Navy and Medallion. I just wonder which one is more "me".
Oh yeah...I'm in MD this weekend with the fam. My g-parents just got a computer system but have no idea how to work with it. So here I am, updating my journal on it.
The ride up was okay. My parents rented a car so we'd have more leg room (though I still think a van would have been better). I dunno. I mean, we only have to sit in it for 10 hours.
Anyway, I'm tired, so off to bed I go. I'll tell you more later :P | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I'm so fatigued and I have been since last Tuesday. Here's what I've been up to:
Tuesday: work 4-10:30 p.m.
Wednesday: work 1:45-10:30 p.m.
Thursday: work 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday: work 2-6:30 p.m.
Saturday: work 1-11:30 p.m.
Sunday: work 4-8:30 p.m.
Monday: work 8-4:30 p.m.
today: work 4-10:30 p.m.
I just want to have a whole day of relaxation, but I don't think I'll get that until tomorrow or, better, Thursday. I'm so weary of work...it's like the mental stress of working there is equivalent to physical stress.
( workplace hazards )
On a side note, I'm reading this point-counterpoint feature in Elle that is intriguing. Are marriages better with submissive women or domineering women? I finished the first one; in it, the author heard from a friend of hers about this "Women's Weekend" thing she just had to go to. Her husband went to a Men's Weekend, a weekend seminar of sorts hosted by A. Justin Sterling, a pretty much crazy man. We'll get to that later.
So this man comes home and all of a sudden he's more sensitive and such and he tells his wife that the way the marriage will work is if she washes dishes, cleans house, and designs stuff around the house while he controls the finances and works. Yeah...what woman wouldn't find that romantic? Anyway, he then tells her she should attend this Woman's Weekend and she goes, then tells the author-friend who wrote the article.
This weekend is just bizarre. The "officials" bark orders at the women the whole time ("Sit down and shut up") and then Sterling appears. He talks about how women should bow to their husbands. When he says cook dinner, you should cook dinner. When he wants to have sex, you have sex. And you don't question his judgment. In fact, this one woman stood up and opposed the cooking dinner thing. Sterling said, "No, you will have dinner on the table when he says to. Now sit down!" Oh yeah...did I mention that you can't take notes during this seminar and they take away your cell phones?
Anyway, then Sterling has the women partner up and yell at each other about who they hate in their lives and all the horrible things that have happened to them. Then Sterling again goes over how women should just shut up and do as they're told. Many of the women warm up to his teachings, which a watchdog group calls "cult-like". I agree with the watchdog guy. He said all Sterling is doing is making the women so upset that they can't help but respond to what he says. He just collects the money and goes to the next town.
Now, I can see where a marriage might be temporarily calm if husband and wife fell into their traditional roles. I mean, how could it not work? Man dominates, woman submits. But how long could it work? I don't think I could stand doing that more than a few days, no matter how much I love someone. No love is greater than one's dignity. I don't want to be the high ruler in the relationship, but I do want a somewhat equal relationship. I mean, I'm a Leo. I like to be in control. However, I do like to cook and design and such and I wouldn't have a problem doing that in a relationship...unless the guy said, "Cook me something now."
I'll read the other article and let you know about it later. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Sometimes I really wonder why I'm in a customer service setting. I mean, I can take a lot of crap from customers who are not always right. But sometimes they just really irritate me. The clientele in Spartanburg is unique; people who shop in our store are either really snooty or they shoplift. Some big chick ran out the door the other night and it made me laugh because one of the assistant managers was closing & she said something priceless:
Employee: It looks like she got some juniors clothing
ASM: She can't get her ass in those clothes.
Oh yeah, I guess you've figured it out. I know it's not very nice, but we do make fun of people (not large people, but mainly stupid customers). I must vent about my annoying dealings with customers this week.
1) I am removing hangers and trash from the registers when this cashier calls me over. This woman is making a huge fuss about how she wants this girl's shirt but it doesn't have a tag. The cashier says she can scan this other shirt--same size, same color--and she can have it. Well, this woman doesn't want the tagged shirt because it was "poochy" in front (it was a peasant-style shirt) and she's blabbering on about how if she needs to return it she'll get a store credit b/c it didn't have a tag. Now, I work there so I think I would know how that works. She would not get a store credit as long as she had the receipt. Well she's still spewing out total BS so I got fed up. I jerked the freaking tag off the one shirt and attached it in customer service to the one she wanted. I was uber pissed as I was already time-pressed to get stuff done. This woman was still throwing a hissy fit about getting a separate bag for it. I was thrilled to get rid of her!
2) Earlybird sale Saturday. Now, the sale ends at 1 p.m. and that isn't in small print on the ad, either. It clearly says above the fold, "Saturday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m." In my opinion, it's your fault if you didn't get in earlier. Unless you lost a leg early in the morning or something else major happened, you should have set your alarm and gotten to the store earlier. That said, it's also our responsibility to remove the EB signs promptly to avoid fiascos like what I went through. Now, older women are sweet sometimes, but other times they can be downright PMS-like. This woman buys all these pic frames, thinking they're 55% off. Well, it's 3:30 and they are back down to 40%. I can see honoring the EB prices without question if it's 1:30, but it was 3:30. And she, as expected, was pitching a fit. "It's not my fault the sign is incorrect." NO ONE SAID IT WAS YOUR FAULT! She's berating me like I'm the grandmaster of the signs. However, I went ahead and gave her a 15% markdown on each frame to bring it to 55%. Simple math, right? Well, apparently she didn't trust me. I left the register after she left and I pulled the signs. Well, Roy from customer service comes back there to find the sign--apparently she disputed it all the way to CS. I show him exactly what I did on the receipt. He agreed I was correct and said he'd tell the woman there was nothing he could do.
3) You know, customers think it's so easy to just change their minds. My lesson before this story: know what you're going to do before you get to a register. One of my biggest pet peeves on the job is when a person plops down a bunch of stuff and then takes time to decide what they want out of the pile. Most of the time I don't have the time to just stand there while some chick decides if she wants the blue or the pink shirt. I have so many other things to do. Anyway, I had to do a void after and a void during for this woman in customer service. What irritates me more than anything is that I will tell someone how much we're returning and what form of tender it will return as. And I give them time to mull that over before I verify it. Then this chick, after the transaction, says she doesn't want the amount returned to her Kohl's charge...she wants a store credit so she can buy this vest and tank top. Fine. Void after. So then I ring up the tank & vest (know here that I checked the prices for her and told her how much they were together). Then I tender the store credit and it leaves her with $7.02 to pay. Well, she's like "I didn't want to have anything to pay. Couldn't you just give me a store credit?" HELLO!!! Welcome to 5 freaking minutes ago. I explain that the credit wasn't enough to cover both items. So she decides against the tank. Well, I can't just "take it off" like she says. I have to void it and rering the vest. I was happy to see her walk away. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| It was a joke. If you weren't there, you missed it.
I saw the film this weekend. Two enthusiastic thumbs up. I won't reveal the plot for those who haven't seen it yet, but it's rather interesting.
Otherwise, I'm working 4-10:30 tonight. It should be fun...or not so much. I've got to go, but I'll tell you about my Saturday drama tomorrow or something. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I wanted to share some interesting customer stories.
For the umpteenth time, someone called the store to ask what our hours were. Now, keep in mind that to get to the customer service desk, you have to go through a recording:
"Welcome to Kohl's in [insert city]. We are open today from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. ..."
Yesterday was a One Day Sale. I actually had a customer come up and ask me, "Ma'am, is this sale just for today?" I gave a professional answer, but I was somewhat perplexed as to why she would ask this.
Yesterday was also a Senior Citizen Discount day. Those days are always fun...the cutest older people come in there. Well, except for this bickering old couple. She bought a bunch of those bright floral shirts that we might love in 40 years or so. Well, her husband grabs the bag as she's pushing the cart away:
"You made me trip!"
"Aw, no I didn't. You did that."
"Just give me my dern cane." | | comments: Leave a comment |
| So I had a mixed message of sorts the other day. I was 2-7 Tuesday night (and Monday as well, but this happened Tuesday) and I had a few oppportunities to speak with Tameka, which usually proves interesting. We were talking about hours. Now, I didn't want to talk too much about it because I have 30+ hours this week and I'll have 33 next week. As a side note, one thing about Kohl's is it's all about business, as the store manager said at last night's meeting. When it comes down to it, the top performers get the most hours. Which makes sense, right? If they only have an 8-hour shift to assign, they're going to give it to the person who can get the most for their money.
So anyway, I'm saying that I wish I could be off a Saturday every now and then. Tameka tells me Dianne (the person directly over us) said she likes to work the best people during the busiest times (i.e., Friday night and all day Saturday). So I guess that means they like me, but at what a huge cost. I'm stressed out of my mind whenever I'm in there on Saturdays. A mixed blessing, indeed.
So last night I was scheduled on POS from 1-7, but someone called in, so I ended up staying until 10:30. After 6 I was reassigned to recovery, which was okay. I can clear a fitting room rack faster than some of the jokes who work there. It was all well and good until 9:50 rolled around and we were in misses updated (for those who are Kohl's fans, it's the Apt. 9/dressy career/Sonoma clothing). Cow, man. It was a nightmare. See, we have this Team Kohl's junk we have to follow where people work as a team and "blitz" certain areas. So basically while we're clearing the men's fitting rooms, misses is getting totally trashed. Women are seriously the sloppiest shoppers out there.
And these swimsuits. I thought I was going to be sick in more ways than one. Physically, it was just gross touching swimwear that very well might have touched another woman's personal areas. See, you'd think people try these things on over their panties. I could tell you disgusting stories of how that isn't true from my time in retail. All I know is I refuse to buy a swimsuit unless I know it was just put out.
Anyway, I had to reach carefully into the carts to grab innocuous pieces of fabric to avoid contact with the liners. We had a Z-rail full of swimsuits that we didn't have time to put up last night. I'm sure the morning crew had tons of fun with that.
I voted in the runoff election. I voted around 3 p.m. and I was number 41 on my precinct's list. Sad, indeed. Of course, I do live in a rural district. Still, sad indeed. I find it interesting that Bauer was able to pull off an extremely narrow victory over Campbell after trailing him by a fair amount in the primary. Like I said before, I think politically he's doing a good job, but personally, eh. But since when did we judge a person's political career on their personal lives? It's like the tables turned here...Democrats complained that personal lives shouldn't interfere with political lives whenever Clinton ran into his messes. But now that it's Bauer and Republican, it's apparently different. Yes.
Otherwise, you know I have to come every now and then baring stories of the bizarre. I actually heard this on Jay Leno. This guy is suing his plastic surgeon because he had a 10-year erection. He had a penile implant 10 years ago which resulted in this. Now, I'm sure the same questions are in your minds as well:
1)Why did he wait 10 years? I mean, you have to give your body time to recoup after surgery. But don't you think that after, oh, a month he'd think something was wrong? Maybe he saw those Cialis commercials and thought, "Well, it's been more than four hours. Maybe I should get it checked out"
2)What was his day-to-day like? There are many bodily things you can hide. But how does one hide an erection for 10 years?
3)Was he in a relationship? Was it satisfying? I don't mean to delve too far into this, but I'm thinking it was either really, really good or really, really poor. It could have been painful. Who knows?
Anyway, the work schedule for the next week or so (p.m. unless otherwise stated):
Friday: 5:30-11:30 (blasted night owl sale)
Saturday: 1:30-6
Sunday: off
Monday: 4-10:30
Tuesday: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Wednesday: 6 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Thursday: 2-8
Friday: off
Saturday: 6-10:30
Enjoy, kiddies. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| It’s been a while, eh? ( “So )
I saw The Break-Up this weekend. I’m still unsure how I feel about it. It was very real in terms of language and setting. Rather than enunciating perfectly, the actors seemed to speak in language we would normally use when speaking with people close to us. They used a lot of filler words in it. I will say Vince Vaughn was good in it. I’m a fan of his comedy, but his dramatic turn was great. Otherwise, the storyline was relatable in some ways and you could see Vaughn and Aniston in those roles in real life...it really does seem like Vaughn could be a couch potato/tour guide extraordinaire and Aniston could be an uptight clean freak.
I bought a compilation CD: Casey Kasem presents America’s Top Ten 1990s: Rock’s Greatest Hits. The playlist with songs I really love:
“Two Princes” Spin Doctors
“One Week” Barenaked Ladies
“Run-Around” Blues Traveler
“Wonderwall” Oasis
“Kiss Me” Sixpence None the Richer
“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” The Proclaimers
“Semi-Charmed Life” Third Eye Blind
“Carnival” Natalie Merchant
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Deep Blue Something
“Hands” Jewel
“Sex and Candy” Marcy Playground
“Follow You Down” Gin Blossoms
“I’ll Be” Edwin McCain
“Linger” The Cranberries
“The Freshman” The Verve Pipe
“Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover” Sophie B. Hawkins
“Lullaby” Shawn Mullins
“Runaway Train” Soul Asylum
“Nothing Compares 2 U” Sinead O’Connor
“Suicide Blonde” INXS
I like all the songs, really. It makes me kind of sad, though. I feel old when I think “I remember hearing that song on the radio in 6th grade. That was 10 years ago. Can anyone fathom that idea?
With my brother going into high school, and along the lines of the sappy stuff above, I was thinking about something. I remember at one point in high school thinking that that was going to be the best time of my life. All the fun I’m going to have is right here. Did anyone else think that in high school? I really thought that was going to be the peak of my life. Now I don’t feel like I”m even close to reaching my peak yet. I think when you’re in high school you just feel like that is life. When you get out of high school, you realize you’re only just beginning life. | | comments: Leave a comment |
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