Saturday, November 25, 2023

I survived this season’s official first Black Friday at Macy’s which was slammed with customers. All day and on my feet, I worked a register facing unending lines of folks waiting for “their finds” to be checked out. The Store exceeded its sales goal of $200,000.

With my feet in the fire, I figured out how to operate nearly every function a Macy’s electronic cash register is capable of. The day’s biggest challenge (aside from my sheer exhaustion) was interacting with two Spanish-speaking-only customers wanting checks of item prices and to make purchases. They tried communicating with me using a phone translator app, which didn’t cut it. I had to go searching for a fellow salesperson fluent in Spanish which gobbled up time, and finally found one who could help facilitate the transaction.

Today, Black Friday will continue, and I’ll be working more long hours. Afterward, the worst should be over, until ex-Christmas. Then, as I understand, the store will have customers lined up at the registers and wanting to make returns.

Dear Friends: This is necessary sales experience for my retail resume. Diana

Black Friday, 2023

This will be a rosy day despite my having to be working at Macy’s for ten hours straight. I’ll be supporting the Black Friday rush.

My day will be pleasant by remembering yesterday’s fun at Ashley’s and Jon’s Thanksgiving event. I found myself among many cool and intelligent folks; and this holiday got to meet Ashley’s mom, visiting from California, and her sister and bro-in-law, visiting from Texas. Everybody mixed well, generating palpable energy; and as always, Jon and Ashley (a great cooking team) created food lovely to see and then delicious.

This year, I feel immensely grateful for certain key advantages. Like, living where I’m neither forced to be religious nor to wear a special covering for women. Also, I’m grateful for having good friends; and for an economy (weird as it is) giving me work outside my home. Actively being out, among others, and doing and learning, is keeping me feeling more relevant.

Today’s header photo seals fond memories. It’s of Russ (our good friend); Cynthia (Ashley’s mom); Ashley, me, and Brooke (Ashley’s sister).

Dear Friends: Now, to the extreme, a plunge into the mad weirdness of Black Friday. Diana

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

I’m up early and streaming on Peacock–what else?–Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade!

Tomorrow, Black Friday, Macy’s has scheduled me to work ten hours. I assumed those long hours were a mistake but found out differently. All of us sales folks without physical disabilities must be on duty Friday and for long hours. At least I don’t have to show up on the sales floor at 6 a.m. when the store opens.

Yesterday, Macy’s was very busy with customers out being ahead of Black Friday. We employees just kept moving, and thankfully, I could work more than usual on my own, managing well enough with customers and operating the store’s registers.

After next week, my official training will be over. So far, I’ve been regularly assigned to the ready-to-wear and intimates department. Soon, I might be able to work in other departments, finding more opportunities to learn about customers’ needs and Macy’s business in general.

Interestingly, too, Macy’s stock is doing well. A couple of weeks back, its share price was $8 and yesterday had risen to nearly $15. I wonder what’s making this old-line store outdo many of its top-line competitors, now with sinking stock prices. I find that many key stock analysts are determining that Macy’s is positioning itself well for continued profitability.

The Macy’s biz is turning out to be more interesting than I had anticipated. It’s one of the reasons I’m feeling thankful today. Another reason is the local weather; while this afternoon will be very chilly it’s without rain or snow. So sad for the skiers and thankful for us foot trekkers.

Dear Friends: Have a wonderful today and a relatively unstressful tomorrow. Diana

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

I’ve written about searching for a new primary care doctor after the one who took care of me for years retired. For months, I searched the local medical community to find a physician with an opening for a new patient. This city, in which I live, is having a population explosion that’s slammed all its medical providers. My fruitless search had me feeling completely out of luck; I quit counting on finding someone locally and considered looking for a doc in Portland.

Suddenly, I got a tip suggesting that the local Mosaic Medical might have an available M.D. I called Mosaic, and truly, that was so. Moreover, I had a choice of being treated by a woman or a man. So, I became a new patient with that providing organization.

My first appointment isn’t until early December. This story is in case a local reader might need a new provider. Considering that Mosaic gave me a choice of genders, there must have been at least two doctors available.

Another good thing from my perspective is that the clinic is nearby. I’ll not have to drive across town for appointments–a welcome plus.

Dear Friends: Tomorrow’s weather, on Turkey Day, will hover in the chilly thirties. Diana

I’m geared up to go outside, feed animals, and continue repairing my fencing. No exciting plans for today, but doing what’s necessary.

Things here are changing a bit. My renter has found an apartment and, over the next few weeks, will be moving. I will miss her, but am happy with her that she’s found a place of her own. There’s much to be said both for sharing space and for living alone. Every change requires some readjusting.

I’ve been wrapping my head around my changing household; especially when months ago she moved in, and now, with her leaving soon. Initially, to provide space for her, I tossed lots of stuff I’d been hanging onto for no useful reason. Now, those tossings will make reclaiming the space easier, and actually, it’ll be larger.

So, things evolve, and we adjust to constant changes.

Speaking of change, there are inquiries about puppy Chase and whether he’s contained. Yes, and I’m incredibly relieved. That fellow could scale any fence, creating a major issue of whether I could continue keeping him. The problem was that, if I couldn’t contain him, it was likely that nobody else could. I had trouble imagining the chances that this trouble-pup would wind up in a safer home. Thankfully, I did the right thing, or he matured and lost interest in fence climbing; both are likely.

Dear Friends: Hope you’ve begun to thaw your turkeys! Diana

Monday, November 20, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving week! This week is never a year’s easiest. Many of us will find ourselves wrestling mightily with various situational issues. Like, how to cook a turkey or another main dish that ought to be a Holiday Dinner Special; or what we can take that’s perfect for adding to a dinner we’ve been invited to, or wondering if we will stay cool among a group of diners that tend to agree or disagree in personal passions.

Yesterday, some women customers told me they always cook big Thanksgiving dinners and will this year, too. Some added that only she and her husband will share that dinner these days. I get it that the tradition of big cooking combines the holiday mood with a good outcome of having leftovers and not needing to cook again for several days.

Through the years that I’ve lived alone, I’ve often cooked on Thanksgiving, even if I were eating alone–for the same reasons–to participate mindfully in the holiday and to enjoy some leftovers. I find very few eats are a smidge more delicious than biting into a sandwich made of day(s)-old cooked turkey with spooned-on cranberry sauce.

I’m still debating my potential contribution as an appetizer to the Thanksgiving dinner I’ll attend. While shopping in good old WinCo the other evening, I ran across a charcuterie board set that included sauce jars and utensils. I brought it home and started reconsidering what to take. Now, I’m leaning toward some cheeses complex and delicious. The trick might be finding what I want.

In previous years’ holidays, Costco typically stocked a few fine imported French cheeses. So far, I’ve not spotted those on its cheese shelves for this holiday. Across town are gourmet markets that might carry some fine cheeses, and I’ll go looking today.

Dear Friends: A holiday week that’s never easy until finally, people are gathering. Diana

Sunday, November 19, 2023

My old bathrobe has served well for many winters, but I’ve never been overly fond of the garment. It’s made of heavy cotton fabric and often seems too heavy. I’ve considered getting another, which has become more real as PJs and robes are sold in the Macy’s department where I work.

I’ve occasionally browsed through the department’s hanging robes. Like most else in Macy’s, none quite would fit me. I’m short and can see myself in one of the plushy robes with its bottom dragging on the ground. Most also have designer labels and pricey tags. Although just about everything in the store is on sale, and I get an employee discount, a Ralph Lauren Robe could set me back more than $60.00.

Besides, Costco carries robes priced half that, so I eschew Macy’s robes.

Yesterday after work, I was starving and dashed into the WinCo Supermarket for a lemon-pepper roasted chicken. Hurrying through its variety aisle, I glimpsed several tightly packaged house robes and paused to examine them. Their anchored folds prevented my opening a robe, but according to the label, “One size fits most.” The price was $15.00, so I went for a robe; and grabbed a companion pair of Sherpa Footsies, also cheap. Might as well, what the hell.

At home and for under $20.00! My impulse robe fits perfectly, is the correct length, and the booties are comfy-warm. Good old WinCo. And there’s more, for yesterday several customers admired my new sweater and asked where I found it. I said I couldn’t recall–didn’t want to say, “It’s from TJMax,” not while working in Macy’s.

Dear Friends: A future blog might tell of my cool new faux-diamond earrings. Diana

Saturday, November 18, 2023

It’s time to winterize, seriously. The Pendelton weather station has sent notices that heavy snow will fall this weekend and top the Cascades. Apparently, the snow won’t fall to the ground here in town, but certainly the local “real winter” is en route.

I’ve drained and stored my water hoses. Have placed an outdoor heater in the barn, it’s capable of quickly unfreezing stiff fingers. A battery-operated snowblower is at the ready.

The horses are sporting plushy thick coats and will get along in freezing weather. My chickens mostly are too de-feathered because they do community plucking. But their huddling gene counterbalances short-on-feathers.

I want to beef up the Dogaloos with cushions to warm the dogs better while they’re outside. And I’ll try, but I’ve discarded too much torn-up bedding to be confident new cushions will last. They’d be safe after puppy Chase matures, but if he’s doing so, it’s not apparent.

To be fair, Chase is smart, fun, and loveable. He’s now one-and-one-half years old and still puppylike. I figure he needs three or four years to settle. So, in this short term, I’ll probably be tossing more torn pillows.

Dear Friends: Fur, feathers, and pillows! “Oh my, oh my.” Diana

Friday, November 17, 2023

Here come the holidays. This year’s early start has employed lengthy massive hyping of both Thanksgiving and Christmas. By now, it’s almost as if those special days have come and gone. But next week, the official Thanksgiving occurs, and it ends at midnight when Black Friday officially begins. We’re already planning to help create Thanksgiving’s big meal if we’re cooking or contributing an enhancement. We’ve already been shopping Black Friday, as retailers earlier lowered their prices for it. The post-Thanksgiving shoppers will purchase more from online sites.

For years, Costco might have been the one retailer bringing Christmas stuff in early. That happened each August, and shoppers joked about aisles decorated Christmas-like before Halloween arrived. This year, many key retailers began celebrating Christmas before Halloween. Workers in retail environments have for many weeks been reminded of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Aren’t they all over already!

Now having ranted, the docile side of my mind is looking forward to Thanksgiving. I’m invited to a meal and asked to contribute an appetizer. Some of the attendees are vegan and I am a low-carb person. I’ve looked online for possibilities and am electing to create two appetizers, accommodating both food types.

For me, logical and easy will be deviled eggs. I like eggs, have plenty galore, and need to use them. For the vegans, I’m leaning toward stuffing endive leaves with a plant-based creamy veggie and nut mixture. While combing through the internet for ideas, anchovies caught my mind and won’t let go. I will mix in some to really devil those eggs.

Dear Friends: Hype aside and refocusing on a holiday brings it alive again. Diana

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Yesterday, during my l-o-n-g shift at Macy’s, I shadowed a manager. Her job was to teach the details of my role. I became a student of cash register operations, dressing room inspections, unwanted clothing re-hanging, and how exactly to position hangers and precisely hang items. She was detailed, slowly and carefully stepping through activities as if teaching a first-grader. We sometimes frustrated one another, but despite that kept working and wound up okay coworkers.

Today, maybe I’ll be allowed to work more on my own. I can hope.

There is much to learn about selling clothing. Guess what, Macy’s stock is on the rise, a surprise to me. I haven’t much interest in the rather conservative items stocked in our local store, but Macy’s good employee discount nudges me toward purchasing there.

I’ve begun following retail sales trends. A couple of interesting biggies are Walmart’s stock rising and Target’s dropping. That’s making me wonder if most buyers do prefer items on the more conservative side. Actually, “pretty and familiar” are a comfortable combination, especially today when most folks run around wearing sweats ‘n sneakers.

The retail world might not be the most interesting topic, but it beats highly focusing on the current two wars concerning us all.

Dear Friends: My retro “Saddles” were a big hit with folks of a certain age. Diana