Thursday, February 15, 2024

Yesterday, falling snow all day created our latest wonderland. There were ever-larger-and-thicker falling flakes that interrupted my plan to go out and be about. That day became an inside one for me, except for a few downhill snow-kickers to the barn to take care of my outside animals.

Despite Central Oregon’s Valentine’s Day weather surprise, maybe the many shoppers I helped select Fancy Dresses in the department store where I work still wore their fancy clothes to pre-planned destinations.

The stress of selecting ought always to be offset by the fun of wearing.

While in the throes of thinking and writing, I sometimes overlook details. Yesterday, my header photo was confusing. I apologize for not explaining that the sparkling dress was a general image that represented popular fancy dresses. That photo way overpowered my new dress for wearing someday.

So much for partylike thinking. Today’s early task is to rev up the snowplow and blow a walkable path to the barn. The header photo is right on.

Dear Friends: We’re beyond ready for warm weather! Diana

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Happy Valentine’s Day!

For a couple of weeks at work, I’ve been assigned to the fancy dress department; being there has been fun and interesting. I’ve learned that February is a very romantic month. Many customers were lookers and triers-oners, planning to celebrate this day or anticipating upcoming fancy affairs.

Those fancy dress customers’ age ranges were huge. I helped high schoolers who were focusing on upcoming winter formals, middle-agers planning to be out and about on Valentine’s, and older folks preparing for formal gatherings, like at the Moose Lodge.

Until now, the Department’s rows of hanging, glittering, and sparkling gowns haven’t attracted me. Honestly, I often wondered why anyone would bother to wear the things. Well, now I’m educated and can see differently those hanging fancy dresses. Yesterday, I surprised myself by selecting and purchasing an “on-the-fancy-side” dress, my first–not sequined but glittery. Maybe I’ll never have an opportunity to wear it, but having the dress (just in case) feels good.

On the other hand, if I happen to have an opportunity to wear something fancy, maybe this dress won’t fit the bill. However, now at least, I know what to look for, where to find something right, and how to make a choice.

Dear Friends: Exposure and learning fuel motivation. Dresses? Who knew? Diana

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

The girls, Rosie and Pimmy, are chowing down after waiting for hours until my lunch hour. That’s when I can hurry home and give hay to the big ones.

Rosie is the boss mare and will share food with Donkey Pimmy but not with her sister, Sunni, who gets a hay pile for herself.

Neither horse objects to sharing with Pimmy. She often drifts between one horse and hay pile to another.

Throughout this year, I’ve worked away from home and kept the large animals in decent condition. It’s likely that we will cope with wintery weather for another month, so we’ll continue as we’re doing, but I’ll climb onto a horse once it warms up.

Now is a good time to start conditioning the equines and myself. I’ll work with them on my next days off and start doing some self-strengthening exercises. These aren’t wishes; they’re the plan. I’m serious.

I’m getting many hours at work and have been busy learning how to work in retail. It’s about more than correctly straightening and putting away articles. It requires a dimension that understands customers’ needs and wants. That means grasping elements of human psychology and understanding desirable end products.

Dear Friends: So, everything’s complicated; more for another day. Diana

Monday, February 12, 2024

I’m from Kansas City, so it’s easy to guess which team I hoped would win yesterday’s Super Bowl. I was at work and couldn’t watch the game, but the store manager regularly fed into my earphone score changes. During the last fifteen minutes of game overtime, I took my break and watched the Chiefs demonstrate their strengths.

Since I live in Central Oregon, it’s a no-brainer that my coworkers and the store’s customers are mostly San Francisco fans. I, too, am a Forty-Niners fan. I root for them when they’re playing against any other eastern team than KC.

Both of my parents and their families hailed from Kansas City. For years, I lived there, too, and still feel emotionally connected to the area–and to long-time friends, relatives, and the world-class Chiefs.

Dear Friends: An exciting game, completely, up to its final second. Diana

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Yesterday, I worked in the store’s upscale women’s fancy dress department, checking buyers out and putting away tried-on flowing long gowns and fancy short beaded dresses. This week’s schedule is crowded. The area’s high schools will host annual winter formal dances, and Valentine’s Day arrives on Wednesday.

Folks old and young were trying on dresses, and today, many of those and others will continue shopping for articles, fancy and bling-covered. Most buyers are in a good mood and fun–and some are very interesting. One woman purchased a classic formal, low-cut with netting that expands its lower portion. She will wear it while supporting a symphony performance by narrating the story behind a composition. (She teaches speech, communications, and theater at our local college.)

Our discussion reminded me that Central Oregon has a symphony orchestra. I had forgotten to find its performance schedule, but last night looked it up. The next concert is on February 24 (evening) and repeated on the 25th (mid-day). Maybe I can attend one of the concerts, and adding to my fun, see that nice customer in her fancy gown narrating.

My working schedule can be a problem, it forces me to plan ahead better. Today’s schedule makes me miss watching the Super Bowl and, hopefully, the Chiefs winning. Unless it’s too late, I’ll reserve a date for one of the upcoming symphony performances. In general, I will become more schedule-involved.

Dear Friends: This little city with lots going on invites greater participation. Diana

Friday, February 09, 2024

Google has upped its act, and this morning, my electronic feed is loaded with AI-generated information. Almost anything I’ve googled for information, articles I’ve opened and read, and topics addressed in my blogs reappear, updated, in my Google feed.

This new AI upgrade surprises and delights. Most topics I research and write about continue to interest me. Since AI now has the capacity to reach more completely into our homes, maybe it’s time we bid farewell to those original “helpers,” like Alexis and such.

All this surprises, delights, and is scary. Reviewing my phone’s electronic feed is like facing my brain’s and memory’s contents. I can’t help wondering what might happen in our brains and to our beings if retaining data becomes less organically necessary. Well, won’t we find out!

Meanwhile, my part-time department store job yesterday assigned me to Dresses, a department I’ve wanted to work in, to learn. Being there wasn’t very different from being in other departments because the work is mainly about interacting with customers, and that’s mostly fun.

The store manager asked if I’d be open for assignments around to different departments, and my response was an enthusiastic “Yes!” Her asking felt great and moving around will make my learning more rounded. Plus, I now have a backup in Google. Regarding workplace topics that I am considering and perhaps debating internally, Google may answer cogently with coaching on how to address situations.

Dear Friends: Modern challenges force us to get our heads in the right place. Diana  

Wednesday, February 07, 2024

A new dawn and an empty brain here. Well, it’s not totally empty; it’s focused on this morning’s stock market. The technical sector is going crazy, as it has for weeks. The market is excited about AI and its impact on our future.

I’m non-technical, understanding little about what drives the larger economy. I do know that we so-called middle-classers constantly pay rising prices for nearly everything and that we all feel the squeeze. The market suggests that AI technology will improve the economy, and maybe so, but prices will stay high to cover “value-added” charges.

So, my personal economic strategy is to keep working part-time. Besides enjoying the welcome factor of gaining social interaction, working adds extra money and can reduce drawing from reserves.

Dear Friends, Unending concerns about the future and what that might bring. Diana

Tuesday, February 06, 2024

Today’s header captures where I walked with a camera. Melting snow creates scenes that are textured and lovely in ordinary locations.

Here’s another nearby. Its trees make for darker lighting and create a more dramatic image.

It’s all good, capturing what’s out there in all directions, often being ignored.

On a totally different note, ahead is a hefty working schedule at my part-time job. After a few days off with my routines returning to normal, it’s time to start ramping things up again. It’ll be interesting to work during this post-holiday period. New stocks are starting to arrive and Valentine’s Day is happening next week. The store will be busy.

I’ll be floating from department to department, covering for lunches and filling in for vacancies. That’ll teach me more about the store’s products, interacting with retail customers, providing services, and making sales.

A fun thing is interacting with my working associates, some of whom I’m beginning to know better. After I officially became hired, co-workers started reaching out differently to me–friendlier and interested in my new role. The store offers me an entirely new sociology to tap into; I’ll be absorbing and learning.

Dear Friends: Puppy, Chase–again path-digging under the fence! Wears me out. Diana