Saturday, October 28, 2023

After swearing never to shop again at Costco, that’s where I went yesterday looking for a little heater for a chilly area in my house. Yes, you’ll guess correctly, I overspent. First, there were winter gloves galore. My turnaround was finding a battery-heated pair in my size, perfect for feeding horses and chickens. Quickly afterward, I shopped wildly: winter clothing, heated throws, space heaters, and, oh well, why not? Wine.

Months had passed without my going there. I discovered other sources for my needs and conducted my clothing shopping online. What struck me differently yesterday was that Costco has upped its clothing stocks. I found wintery items in my size and priced cheaply; they’ll be fine for wearing to work or just being casual.

It’s no accident my interest in clothing. I’m piqued by hopes to move toward selling retail clothing. I’ve less interest in high-end items than those more affordable and trendy. To this end, Macy’s is hiring me through the holidays. That would punch up my retail resume, but a surprise has popped up.

I am invited to interview with Ross Stores for a supervisory position. Perhaps it’ll use my background of experience with employee training and development and sales training. I attempt not to feel overeager, but yesterday in my shopping cart were varieties of inexpensive and trendy clothing items I might be selling for Ross. Before interviewing, I’ll start wearing and getting comfortable with the items; they’ll help me develop a pitch for the position.

Dear Friends: Daily, something different! I’ll keep you posted. Diana

Friday, October 2, 2023

Happy World Lemur Day! The header photo is an AI-generated watercolor of a ring-tailed mama Lemur carrying a baby. Lemurs are primates from the island of Madagascar off Africa’s East Coast. Lemurs live in Madagascar’s rainforest and mostly sunbathe on the forest floor while eating fruit, leaves, bark, and small insects.

Today is the last Friday of October and is also the Annual World Lemur Day, which celebrates the animals and Madagascar, their home and a nation-state rich in biodiversity. Madagascar is one of the top countries affected by human-caused climate change. Its forests are decreasing in size and altering the habitats of its many unique species.

In the header picture note Mama’s huge tail. Ring-tailed lemurs have tails longer than their bodies. But there are over 100 species of lemurs and some are tiny. Working on this blog has made me seduced by lemurs, their cuteness and uniqueness, and their interesting evolvement. I will make a point to learn more about them.

Here’s a photo of Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur, the tiniest of the species and the world’s smallest primate. Its average body length is 3.6 in., and its seasonal weight is around 1.1 oz.

This morning, I’ve been watching videos showing lemur varieties beautifully and gracefully flying among giant trees, and between branches. I have ordered books. Starting now and going forward, I will appreciate their long existence and recognize the essential need to support their continuously doing so forever.

Dear Friends: Today, I got way sidetracked and enjoyed every step. Diana

Thursday, October 26, 2023

That’s me in the header photo, captured by my visiting friend, Anna. I’m demonstrating my way of stretching and repositioning fence fabric. I’ve been focusing on repairing and strengthening neglected horse fencing in my spare time. I’m tickled for having discovered that I can do that work myself.

Anna and I had planned to ride horseback, but instead, we opted to take a walk through the neighborhood, talking and catching up with one another. She had brought along some ripe Hood River pears, the best-eating ever. Next summer, I will journey to Hood River for fruit.

I’ve been thinking about fashion trends and how they’re marketed. The shopping experience makes it obvious that new clothing is first marked up and, immediately afterward, tagged as “on sale.” I distrust stores with racks of new clothing that’s mostly on sale. I’m more comfortable shopping at discounters and finding cheap & chic.

It might be worthwhile to consider sewing one’s own clothing. Especially simple pieces like slacks. If I have learned to fix a fence, I ought to be capable of constructing a wearable. Although speaking lightly, I’m seriously considering heading to JoAnn’s and looking for a do-able clothing pattern.

I have a track record of becoming involved in activities associated with my employment. While working at Wilco, I adopted animals; while working at Home Depot, I accumulated tools and made repairs. My next step will be Macy’s, which might get me sewing.

All that makes me curious. Say, for example, if I were working at Dick’s Sporting Goods, would I wish and perhaps plan to hike the Pacific Crest Trail?

Dear Friends: And so it is a process of continuously stretching and growing. Diana

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Last week, my friend Anna and I made a plan to ride horseback today in the neighborhood. The suddenly changing weather might affect us. Freezing rain fell overnight, and this morning’s temps in the low-thirties aren’t welcoming. Our plan might go on hold until next week when expectations are for warmer weather.

During these last couple of weeks working at HD, my shifts are from 3 to 8 p.m. After arriving home around 9, I must feed the horses. That consumes more time because my donkey Pimmy needs medication. I put the horses and Pimmy into the barn, a closed area, for otherwise, Pimmy wouldn’t let me and a syringe near her. She circles in the barn, and I follow until she decides to pause and allow a syringe. Hopefully, she’s realizing that only after taking meds does she get hay.

After letting the equines eat for an hour or so, I’ll release them from the barn. On late outings, my Border Collie, Miles, is my companion. He’s relatively quiet and loves accompanying me. For me, he’s a reassuring presence.

As to Pimmy, I hope eventually that she simply lets me walk to her and medicate. One thing about her I’ve not recognized is her sheer strength. Pimmy usually is easy, unresisting, and willing. But nowadays, without a halter, rope, and her permission, it’s impossible for me to hold her still.

At least we have an okay start. We have a process that works, and she’s receiving medications.

Dear Friends: I’m out to feed horses now, and be ready if we do ride. Diana

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

It’s done and my job at HD ends in two weeks. In November, I’ll be selling at Macy’s and working there through the holidays. At the new year’s start, it’s anyone’s guess as to where I might head workwise. I’ll simply play my cards and keep my powder dry.

My future of working places may be cloudy. However, acting and deciding brings huge relief, because an initial conflict is history. Big decisions encourage optimism and excitement about moving forward.

Nonetheless, change always is edged with doubts. I’m bolstered by reading the tea leaves (these days, referring to the larger economy). They encourage the sense of interesting working opportunities continuing beyond the year-end.

The upcoming months at Macy’s will help me know what types of sales work I prefer. I’m a descendant of selling types, who successfully sold clothing, jewelry, and shoes. I have an inherited me-too sales talent and look forward to learning at Macy’s.

Dear Friends: In the nature of a personal experiment, this all feels cool. Diana

Monday, October 23, 2023

Yesterday, I wrote about giving notice at my steady part-time job and planning to start working at Macy’s. Thanks to readers who wrote and, while cautionary and encouraging, offered good advice. Most of us know how challenging it is to leave a safe working environment and enter the relatively unknown. Especially if one’s not young and in today’s mega-confusing economy.

The Macy’s gig would be a short commitment lasting through the upcoming holiday season. There, selling clothing and related items will add sales-specifics to my working experience. Clothing experience would enhance my resume and heighten my candidate appeal in job searches.

Moving forward will, in early January, have me again job hunting. This community’s retail environment has seasonal shifts that affect the availability of jobs. I wonder about opportunities for clothing and hardware salespersons after the holidays. If such isn’t available, my fallback could be cashiering, a skill on my resume and usually needing applicants.

My game plan for seeking more interesting work in 2024 seems reasonable. Widening my variety of hands-on working experience would increase my resume’s appeal to most local businesses, which are retail establishments.

Regardless of reasonableness, saying goodbye to my current and nice employer is a tough call.

Dear Friends: We face challenge after challenge, and none a drop easier. Diana

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Today approaches the deadline for deciding whether to stay with or quit my current part-time job. On the positive side is the safety of continuous employment in an excellent company, and on the tippy-toe side is the potential to expand my retail experience and pursue more challenging and interesting jobs.

During the past few years, I have gone from zero retail skills to some, having learned to cashier, work in a large garden department, and sell hardware and tools. Now, I can reference some sales experience and want to add clothing sales. To this end, Macy’s has hired me for employment during the upcoming seasonal rush.

I have accepted that position. No later than tomorrow, moving forward means giving my current employer notice.

Yesterday, I checked out the local Macy’s, the store hiring me. I found it huge, well-stocked, clean and attractive and filled with racks of mostly discounted clothing. While wandering throughout, I was struck by the store’s very few shoppers and its overall quiet. I left wondering what a sales role there requires with so few buyers. I’ll stop in again and take another look.

Meanwhile, because of its closeness, I went to Ross Dress For Less, another shop I rarely visit. The place was swarming with customers. I could see how its informal help-yourself arrangement accommodates high customer flows and facilitates a self-choosing of merchandise.

On coming home, I discovered my online job feed carrying an opening at Ross. I applied for it.

The jury is out on what I may do tomorrow. Macy’s is upscale and seems low on energy. Ross is downscale and demonstrating consumer energy for “making finds.” Seasonal employment is a two-month gig; either company could provide a leg up for new jobs.

Dear Friends: The current hiring frenzy creates many new working opportunities. Diana

Saturday, October 21, 2023

I scrambled outside with a camera early and captured this lovely dawn. It’s maybe our last pretty one before the weather shifts and gives dawnings a more wintery look. Yesterday, my friend Rachelle and I took our dogs out to run and play while we hiked with them. The weather was almost perfect. To grab more of this great weather, today I’ll again take my dogs out to run, and hopefully, also tomorrow morning.

The daylights are shorter. My chickens are responding by laying fewer eggs, and often, there only are two or three from some still-laying hens. Soon, I won’t find any eggs, and Good! Hens in a stretch of time without rooster interferences can gain weight and regrow stripped feathers.

I’m trying to decide what to do myself over the next couple of months. Right now are lots of seasonal job opportunities, and I wish to beef up my retail experience by selling clothing. Macy’s would hire me, but I’d have to leave my current part-time job–a dilemma. I’m conflicted over whether to play it safe and stay put, or be bold and step forward. Time for deciding is short as I struggle.

Dear Friends: Cashiering, gardening, hardware, and clothing–all retail standards. Diana

Friday, October 20, 2023

The header photo is from the aisles and of a twelve-year-old Golden–a sweet guy. His face has turned gray, but overall he’s in superb condition. And that expression! He’s irresistible.

I have this day off from my part-time job plus two more days. This weekend might end our local good weather, a pleasant type once known as an Indian Summer. A weather change might be dramatic in its suddenness, which is what we’ve learned to expect. Already, I’ve sheltered my small motorized vehicles and on-hand tools against possible rain.

This morning, my friend Rachelle and I plan to head toward the mountains and run our dogs. This afternoon, I’ll work on my horse fencing, doing some straightening and strengthening, to combat its chewed and battered appearance. Sometime this weekend I will ride horseback, maybe here in the neighborhood.

Here in what might be summer’s last gasp, I will take a walk and have Cockatoo Peaches on my shoulder. We need more to go out walking. He’s delighted when his cage door opens and he’s invited to step onto my arm. Peaches’ feathers are not trimmed, so he’s fully flight-capable, but he loves to be riding on my shoulder or forearm.

Dear Friends: Just some of my plans for these work-free days. Diana

Thursday, October 19, 2023

At HD, I am learning to use its powerful and user-friendly registers to become a backup cashier. I’m receiving hands-on training with real-time practice using the touch screens.

I am interested in this secondary position because it will break up normal workday routines. During customer-heavy periods, the lead cashiers call for backup cashiers, and by responding, I’ll brush up my register skills while gaining broader store-related know-how.

Learning has had me shadowing very experienced cashiers. I’m finding they know many repeat customers well. I had forgotten that pleasant aspect of cashiering–continuing old discussions, sharing wider observations, and telling new jokes. Of course, “unpleasant” occurs, too, when a customer rattles on and seemingly endlessly about worldviews that are opposite to a listener’s own.

Working in retail, or any other kind of business, requires one to sense situations that could become stressful and know how to be unresponsive and appear nonjudgmental. When someone goes off on views way different from my own, I listen politely, might even nod, but never comment. Hopefully, as a customer’s unpleasant thoughts and words drift off, so, too, may that person.

Dear Friends: I’m betting on demonstrating soon that I can manage a resister. Diana