Friday, December 15, 2023

Yesterday, I hemmed a pair of slacks by hand. I hadn’t put a thread to a needle for years. I started by visiting YouTube for hem-sewing techniques. Afterward, and after finally managing to locate needles and thread, I could sense my brain and muscle memory bringing up some basic sewing moves.

I am forced to sew because I’m no longer tall and statuesque at five feet, two and one-half inches, but a shrunken, mere four feet and eleven inches. This is obvious in group photos where everybody else towers above me; and in finding the bottoms of my short-person pant-bottoms clustering on the floor.

On completing the hemline, I got picky and saw tiny bludges that might smudge the finished appearance. My hems needed ironing! Long ago, I had an iron and board, but yesterday, rushed to Costco and found an iron. This one barely resembles any in my past life. Its bottom is a water chamber for standalone steaming or combo steaming and ironing.

I got onto it and finished the job. Today at work, I’ll be Power Girl in Leg-Fitting Power Pants. My schedule is terrible, I’ll work until 11 p.m. because of the store’s extended Christmas shopping hours. Tomorrow’s scheduled shift also will last forever.

Dear Friends: It’s no little matter: I still see well enough to thread a needle! Diana

Thursday, December 14, 2023

I search national news daily to find the most recent accounts of interesting topics. Nowadays, including the war in Ukraine and that in the Middle East. Lately, I’ve also searched for updates about a stock buyout offer for the company that employs me.

I’ve learned that on days when newspapers don’t carry the information I’m seeking, there’s another source to check: AI. I might ask, “What’s the latest news and status of the war between Ukraine and Russia?” AI immediately gathers relevant feeds, summarizes them, and generates an up-to-date, well-rounded, and readable status.

I’ve been working part-time in retail clothing sales for several weeks, an arena new to me. Working in clothing has made me curious about the industry. I wonder why fashion seems important, with some labels seemingly more popular and some designers seemingly more creative. I’ve wondered, quizzed more experienced co-workers, and finally decided to tap AI.

AI’s cogent response cited key fashion-related topics and explained their significance. These include vision and creativity, timeless elegance, quality and craftsmanship, brand identity and storytelling, empowerment and individuality. AI reports that an essential secret is the element of appeal.

The power of garments is in their appeal. They become more than just clothing by creating experiences, emotions, and statements. Certain designs will resonate with women on a deeper level and inspire confidence, creativity, and a sense of self-expression. The best designs aren’t simply clothes; they are wearable art.

Dear Friends: Building on this, exploring might lead toward tattoo appeal. Diana

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

The local weather’s warm, the stock market’s hot, and today will be great. For the next couple of days, I have days off from work. I’m making plans: one, go riding; two, roam with the dogs; and three, sight through a camera.

Yesterday morning, while walking across a parking lot, I heard someone yelling hello and stopping her truck abruptly. It was Karmen! My ex-coworker at HD. We enjoyed some catching-up time. I gave two weeks’ notice at my former workplace and worked through them without speaking much about my plan to leave. Truthfully, I didn’t know where I was going; only that I wished to sell retail products other than tools. My informal goal was to find work in a retail clothing environment.

Karmen described her surprise on learning of my leaving, and similarly, among others we worked with. My former supervisor has told HD folks where I am working now, but until speaking with Karmen, I doubted anyone might have noticed I’d gone missing. On being reminded by her that relationships had been established and I had dropped the ball, I will visit my former workplace and say hi to folks.

I’ll visit there this morning, and anyway, I need a couple of its products. Like a baby gate to keep dogs from my spare bedroom; and clothing hangers because I’m kind of crazy in my new workplace. I’m a weird “kind of crazy.” Back while working at an animal feed store, I adopted chickens and puppies; while working in Hardware, I brought home tools and more tools, and now, working in retail clothing is a new round.

It’s fun, playing with clothing and combining items I’d never before have dreamed of wearing. The store is tolerant, with the motto, “Own Your Style.” Many of its insiders play with and wear unique clothing combinations. Today’s social environment allows almost any coverings, and I’m finding fun in being visual and creatively combining articles of apparel.

Dear Friends: Surprised to discover I’m a visual learner, way more than I thought. Diana

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Today will be the last in a “killer stretch” of my part-time work. It’s almost Christmas time, and some employees are not showing up. That is providing me opportunities to spend more hours on the job. It’s also having me learn more and more aggressively involve myself in the store’s routines.

Starting tomorrow, I will be off for two days unless called to cover for a missing colleague. Then, it’ll be next week’s killer days before Christmas.

There are constant pressures from constantly working with customers, straightening conditions of various merchandise, and being exhausted on coming home. But the job is fun. The store is friendly to its seasonal workers and encourages us to be ourselves. I feel propped above just being a gray-haired and slightly bent worker; I feel important.

I’m not particularly important, but I have more self-esteem while working in a women-managed environment–not a drop less profit- and performance-driven, but with a slightly softer management style. Generally, our inside observations and jokes relate to women’s interests. Our store’s female manager reinterprets the chain’s managing men’s directives and competently flows information and goals, keeping us informed and marching together.

Dear Friends: Another early arrival workday, and I must prepare. Diana

Monday, December 11, 2023

I wasn’t planning on working most of this week, but my workplace is dealing with a rush of customers and unanticipated employee absences. My hours are rescheduled, and I’ll be working more days, each for longer hours.

It’s okay because my working hours are passing more quickly. I’ve grasped the retail working routines and can stay busy and productive. Expanding working experience is a learning opportunity. A few weeks as a seasonal employee are remaining for me to achieve the max in my role.

My workplace has a motto, “Own your style!” Its double meaning refers to mixing and matching articles of apparel as one might wish, but thoughtfully. It also suggests being confident in one’s personal self.

The workplace routines are demanding, but the themes are good. I have a brief working timeline, it looms and leaves open what may come next.

Dear Friends: Have a wonderful day on what will be another relatively warm one. Diana

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Yesterday morning, I got my working hours mixed up; I arrived two hours early. My schedule on that day, anyway, called for long hours, and working the extra two meant ten hours. Those passed quickly because there were many customers. On arriving home in the evening, little was left of me.

Finally, I’m learning my job. I’m managing a cash register, handling routines involving the dressing room, locating merchandise and putting it away, finding various product areas, and meeting more of my coworkers. Managers are no longer hovering nearby and breaking in to assist with sales and thus train me. Their relative disappearance is good feedback.

All that’s exhilarating and tiring.

I’m making some lifestyle changes after visiting my new primary care doctor. They will involve my food intake patterns. For years, I’ve maintained a low-carb diet that helps with managing weight. However, now I understand I’m low on electrolytes, like potassium, and am pre-diabetic. Many foods not in a low-carb diet are loaded with electrolytes. My enjoyable wine is loaded with sugar. I will shift toward a Meteranian-style diet and generally avoid wine.

So, I’m saying.

Dear Friends: Know thyself! Both strengthening and diminishing require effort. Diana

Saturday, December 09, 2023

A vintage Star of David, which I discovered on the internet, arrived Thursday evening, exactly at the start of this year’s Hanukkah. I have begun wearing it to express my deep sympathy toward all who live in the Middle East, and my hope for an end to ferocious warring, and with a reasonable outcome.

This Star lives up to my expectations. It is in good condition, slightly worn, has a distinctively lovely design, and has its own history. It is feminine in appearance, making my imagination assume that one or more women of faith have worn it. I will continue letting this Star message, regardless of how much my perspective resembles or differs from the previous wearers.

Dear Friends: Interesting, our human affection for and responsiveness to symbols. Diana

Friday, December 08, 2023

It’s back to work today for me. And so close to Christmas! It’s hard to believe the holiday is almost a reality. This year, stores began stocking Christmas-related merchandise soon after having stocked for Halloween. Artificial Christmas trees and their associated twinkling beckonings managed to dim both earlier holidays, Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Halloween passed without me so much as noticing. But, I enjoyed the Thanksgiving evening among friends. On Christmas, my home will be quiet. I’ll spend that day thankful the pre-holiday rush is over. I’ll also spend part dreading that it’s over. I am scheduled to work on the day after Christmas and am forewarned, to anticipate lines of customers with previously bought items and returning, returning, returning them.

I understand that in January we who are seasonal employees will be laid off. Then, in February, the store will begin calling ex-temps it wishes to keep to offer them jobs. Regardless of whether I am called, I’ll be pursuing working opportunities in retail clothing sales.

In this season, our weather hasn’t resembled its wintery norms. I’ve worn my new, warm plastic, blue puff coat only a couple of times. Our untypical warmth has brought us scattered light rains and last night’s dusting of snow.

I am determined to fulfill one New Year’s resolution: working out regularly in a gym and strengthening my core and upper back. I’ve tried doing that at home and have the equipment, but home isn’t an ideal location. Always, too much else captures my attention. My best exercising will come from regularly leaving home and working out elsewhere.

Dear Friends: On this chilly and petty day, enjoy planning and shopping fun. Diana

Thursday, December 07, 2023

It’s Pearl Harbor Day.

My new primary care doctor, whom I hoped would turn out to be older, very experienced, and wise, actually was someone young and fun, who could process information super-rapidly while talking either casually or professionally. As we chatted she busily tapped on a computer, reviewing years of my lab reports and pinpointing accurately my medical history’s most relevant bits.

She found me having a couple of new issues, a slight heart murmur, and a pre-diabetic condition. She ordered tests to explore them; didn’t consider either particularly worrisome now but encouraged baselining and watching them.

Well-O, well-O, well-Oh; heart and diabetes…who knew? It surely didn’t help that I had to spend two years before locating a primary care doctor available in Central Oregon. At least, now I am informed and have professional help going forward.

On arriving home, my phone rang offering an opportunity to work, and I accepted. On arriving, instead of supporting Ready-To-Wear, where I usually work, I went to the Home and Men’s Wear sections. Their stocks and routines were too new, made fly from my brain much I have learned about assisting customers and checking out merchandise. Long story short, a more experienced salesperson soon arrived; I returned to RTW and worked comfortably.

Dear Friends: A big day highlighting both my working- and living-styles. Diana

Thursday, December 06, 2023

There goes Chase, my varmint puppy and escape artist pièce de résistance. He wears me out by constantly climbing, digging, and exploring. He discovers escape opportunities from the large fenced dog area.

I’m committed to keeping this challenging puppy because few others would tolerate his energy. Someday, if I’m lucky, he’ll become calmer and less worrisome. If I’m not lucky, what the heck. It’s too late to say, “Chase, bye-bye.” Actually, he also has saving graces, a wonderful temperament with devotion for his person.

This morning I have a first appointment with my new primary care doctor. A couple of years ago, my long-time PCD retired and I began searching for another. This city’s exploding population gobbling up its doctors prevented my finding anyone qualified with an opening for a new patient. Recently, relief came; I fell into luck and found an available PCD.

Here’s a capture of my very winterized, wooly pony, Sunni. She seems disinterested in me and my camera, but has a busy eyeball!

Following my appointment this morning, and if the warm weather holds, it’s a fine day to saddle Sunni and go for a ride.

Dear Friends: Have a wonderful day! Diana