Sporked!

Friday, September 27, 2024

The header captures my friend and co-worker Adrain tackling his crispy chicken bowl. I’m sitting opposite him and will do the same after my camera action. That was yesterday evening, at a restaurant called Spork, where we met for dinner.

My drive there and my search for Spork illustrated how much his city has grown, and our dining experience updated my restaurant behavior. I was a fish dipping into deeper waters.

About Adrain: This year, he’s been a good friend to me and my coworkers at the department store where we work. He had a previous career, and that path was recently relaunched. He’s excited—with good reason—for he’s bright and capable. We enjoy swapping perspectives and encouraging one another.

Everything I do is typically on this city’s east side. I rarely travel to the busy and touristy west side–where I became lost yesterday evening. Fortunately, I was near Spork, and Adrain found me, guided me into the restaurant, and introduced its–what? Tai/Chinese?–menu while explaining the ordering/seating processes. I found myself in good hands.

Brand new to me was the camera action in that busy restaurant. Almost everybody was taking pictures—selfies and groups—similar to lunchrooms in my part-time jobs. Adrain always uses his camera like a pro, and this dinner wasn’t any exception; he comfortably photographed and texted. So did everybody else, and soon, me, too, a little.

The upshot is that the evening might have relaunched Miss Eastsider. She ventured out, explored new venues, appreciated her kind friend, and had mucho fun.

Dear Friends: Plus, I found that another special buddy is my phone’s camera! Diana

Going!

Jet flying very high overhead, captured by my iPhone

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Yesterday, I worked in Jewelry, and a customer became great fun. She was genuine, enthusiastic, and open. She’s a retiree whose professional career involved teaching piano and mathematics. Long after retiring, she met her now-long-time significant other on Match.com. They’re enthusiastic about bicycling together and frequently have traveled by bicycle in countries worldwide.

She enjoyed hearing about my horses and especially my donkey, Pimmy. As it turned out, she recognized Pimmy. She’s often driven past my place and loves seeing the donkey.

(BTW, “the donkey” is in trouble with me for refusing to take her medications. Starting last night, and from now on, twice a day, she’ll receive meds from a syringe. We both dislike syringe deliveries, but those more insure her continuing health.)

My customer recommended that I explore a program offered by Oregon State University. The program is designed to be a continuing learning experience; it could be done in person or online. She and her significant other have enjoyed it. (I have forgotten its name but know how to look up the program, and will say more in a future blog.)

I’m off from my part-time job today. This evening, I plan to meet with one or more of my coworkers for dinner at a new restaurant.

Dear Friends: Today, I hope to have enough spare time to go horseback riding. Diana

Gettin’ Moving

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

On this early-to-work day, I will help open the department store that’s my part-time employer. Because of that morning obligation, the opening shift forces me to rush to get to work. It will become more challenging next month when the store begins to open one hour earlier and throughout the holiday season. The word is that we also will close one hour earlier than now, but I remember last year. In December’s final weeks, we were closing the store very late.

By now, I’ve worked in this store for just one month, less than a full year. Recently, I was surprised to receive an email from our NYC headquarters and our company’s president congratulating me on my nearly one year of service.

That gesture jolted my memory. For two years prior, I kept changing part-time jobs every six months, needing to develop retail skills that would make me more hirable in this city’s primary retail environment. Each job added to my skills, and last year, I decided to work in sales through the holidays for a major department store. I never planned to stay, but I’m still there and liking it.

Early is just that, and to get to my job today, I must start moving now. I also must start to wrap my head around the soon-to-be target of “one hour earlier.” That likely is inspired by our soon-to-be “clock-falling-back.”

Dear Friends: Retail is a war; people will spend over $2B online this holiday season. Diana

Rambling

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

The days go flying past! Is it possible, this day is a Tuesday already!

That summarizes my weekly mantra: “What happened to Monday?” Usually, this day initiates adjustment so that Wednesday’s appearance isn’t as jolting. Essentially, time flies.

I went to work yesterday, and as suspected, the store was short on employees. Instead of selling jewelry, I was assigned to cover the Intimates Department. The first half of my shift was spent straightening and rehanging bras, and I listened to women complaining about their breasts and having to search for bras. In an Initimates Department, breasts and bras are never-ending issues.

Some sort of variation occurs in every department. I’ve listened as customers talked unendingly about bed sheets and being willing to sleep only on certain types. Jewelry searching, of course, brings up lots of focus on oneself. A good seller does what’s needed in every product situation and listens.

Monday barely is history, and I rattle on. Maybe I’m slightly rattled after those few hours of listening to unresolvable complaints. Right now, I am considering the extent to which advances have transitioned the human condition.

Technology has given us almost endless choices. Once upon a time, a person who slept nights on a substantial straw mat was lucky. Back then, too, women typically used rag-type materials to bind their breasts and control menstruation. Nowadays, with many sophisticated choices, it seems they’re not enough, and people are restless.

In the late 1960’s, there was an enormous public movement to “Burn the bras!” Women’s bodies were becoming less idealized than those ballyhooed by the popular movies. That refocusing has continued and is an issue today.

And today, a woman is campaigning, she’s popular and might be America’s next President.

Dear Friends: I will be at work today listening to whatever anybody wants to say. Diana

Deciding

Monday, September 23, 2024

This morning, I have struggled to be reflective and creative despite suffering from a head cold. Although my cold seems to be winning, I’m trying to fight having to “call out” from my part-time job today. The store is short-staffed, and I am a die-hard who needs to meet expectations; today, “meeting” means showing up and working.

I’m an old-school type, imbued by my growing-up days when people accepted that they must work and do so dependably. These days, it’s a different story; young people see the world through modern eyes. I’m starting to get it and hesitate to encourage young workers to go to school or, in some other way, prepare for a desirable future. Through their eyes, the future looks different from what’s in my eyes.

I grew up learning that individual initiative springs from believing in oneself. That might have been a more forceful philosophy when people dealt with fewer technological developments and social advancement struggles. Everything happening used to be more local than international, and that’s become flipped.

I could go on, but you’re getting the drift. Today, I have a choice–to choose the acceptable norm of calling out or the personal norm of going to work.

Dear Friends: It’s early, with the jury still out, as my head leans in a tempting direction. Diana

Glances

Sunday, September 22, 2024

The header, taken by my friend Angie, is of me holding onto my horses; I’m wearing shiny boots and an equally shiny shirt. This capture is pleasant, although I’d like to see Rosie glancing in a forward direction.

That was a few days ago when I felt good. Yesterday, I began battling an oncoming cold, and unfortunately, the cold won. I spent last night on Nyquil, and today will be on Dayquill. On this day off from my part-time job, I’ll be outside and in the sunshine while caring for my outside animals; the sun will help to dry my system.

This is a simple, Good Morning!

Dear Friends: Some of my colds are one-day wonders; this one might be, too. Diana

Cool

Saturday, September 21, 2024

I drove to Sunriver yesterday for the first time in many years. I was going to meet some long-time friends for lunch, ladies who, with me, participated in a cancer group years ago. We used to share much about our health conditions, private lives, and beyond-that-group relationships.

Yesterday’s luncheon felt like a meeting in the old days. We shared our personal updates, and like in our past discussions, we spoke openly and honestly and were mutually supportive. I have missed those friends and hope it’s possible to join them again.

I was scheduled to work at my part-time job last evening, and I timed my return from Sunriver perfectly. I had plenty of space to feed the horses before I had to leave for work.

Today’s header photo is another from Angie’s camera. It’s an unedited capture of Pimmy and me hanging out in a high spot with a beautiful sky as our canopy. Angie is a sophisticated editor who enjoys transforming photos (e.g., lifting images from pictures and resetting them into different backgrounds). I’m eager to see what she does with those from our photoshoot.

I’m inspired to rework some old photographs featuring my donkey, Pimmy, campaigning in a past political contest. If I can change the images appropriately, they’d again be cool, supporting the Harris/Walz campaign.

Dear Friends: Keep moving without ever slowing our minds and imaginations. Diana

Happenings

Friday, September 20, 2024

The header shows my co-worker and friend, Angie, holding my horses, Sunni and Rosie. After we took photos on my property, we drifted toward my neighbor’s pretty “golf course” lawn. The horses immediately went grass-crazy, and Angie held the lead ropes tightly.

She was at my place for a photoshoot. Angie is an experienced photographer. She has opinions and imagines what she wants to capture. She asked me to wear “sparkly boots” and an attention-grabbing shirt (that big Rosie kept sneezing on). She wanted in the pictures both my horses and donkey. On finishing our shoot, she anticipated a big editing job.

I appreciated Angie’s quick eye and camera savvy. To my surprise, she’s an experienced horseperson; she grew up riding busy Arabians. Yesterday, she fell in love with my calm, easy-to-handle horses. We will go horseback riding together.

I will travel to Sunriver today for lunch with several long-time friends. For years, long ago, we all met weekly to discuss our health, medicines, doctors, and “general doings.” We were in a long-running cancer survivor group that weekly drew 10 to 20 participants; it connected us family-like. Several years ago, I drifted away and stayed loosely in touch.

Earlier this week, a member of that cancer group was out shopping, and she spotted me in Jewelry. We immediately renewed a mutual closeness, and she invited me to join her and others from the group who planned to meet for lunch. Today is when that lunch will happen, and I’ll be there. It’s an exciting opportunity to reconnect with old friends.

Dear Friends: There could be a “more social me” peeking from deep inside. Diana

Untitled

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Yesterday evening, the (waning) Harvest Moon was gorgeous again shortly after rising in the east; its bright light guided me home. On arriving home and going outside with a camera, I saw the moon very high in the sky, too distantly to suit my “artistic vision.” I will instead plan to capture October’s fullest moon. It will be another supermoon, but a special one that will rise nearer to the Earth and thus appear bigger. I will add a tripod to my capturing equipment.

Yesterday, too, while at work, I discovered myself more comfortable in my sales role and connecting better with coworkers and customers. To some extent, selling is a “personality game.” I’m a new kid on the block, so to speak, in jewelry sales, and I’ve wondered how to hold my own among seasoned product experts. Finally, I am growing more confident in my sales style, which might attract new customers who will purchase from me.

Jewelry sales resemble a consulting role. I’m learning to ask questions that help me understand a buyer’s preferences and also provide openings for me to suggest alternate options from my perspective.

Today, a coworker will be here with a camera to photoshoot my equines and me. It’s her vision and plan; I’ll simply do as she asks.

Dear Friends: My sales job connects me more to this area’s unique culture. Diana

Golden Harvest

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Yesterday evening, today’s header photo was my most clear capture of September’s (always) fabulous Harvest Moon. Ever since childhood, the full September moon has been my favorite. Its brightness lights the path and powerfully signals a transition to significantly different weather. In darkening fall evenings, the Harvest Moon’s brightness encourages us to imagine late harvests, the old way with horse-drawn equipment.

After working late at my part-time job and driving home, I planned to photograph the moon but became discouraged. The large globe was barely visible and busy, dodging massive dark clouds.

I’ve played with moon photography for years but am still a novice at turning sky images into art. Yesterday evening, with art on my mind, I wished to capture the globe and earth objects, with the moon as top layer.

That top layer sometimes disappeared and an inviting empty space became an inspiring image.

This year’s Harvest Moon is also a Supermoon. That’s because it’s closer to Earth and appears slightly larger and brighter than usual.

These photos aren’t my mind’s perfect imaginings, but they satisfy. They capture splendid visual elements of the active moon and sky and earthly items. Another lovely aspect is that they touch on the moon’s emotional significance.

Dear Friends: Transition, reflection, and celebration as summer turns into autumn. Diana