Tuesday, February 20, 2023

I’m following X (formerly known as Twitter) on America’s post-Presidents’ Day. Many X site contributors speak to the unfairness of Navaldy’s demise, and they express admiration for his widow’s courageous plan. She intends to grasp her husband’s mantle and continue working to achieve his goal of reforming Russian politics. Whew!

Over the years, I’ve come to understand that maybe some people are born with a “risk-taking gene.” They tend to mature into such occupations as firefighters, law enforcement personnel, and professional military. Let’s toss in such work as washing tall-building windows and also hobbies, such as piloting high-flying engineless glide-airplanes. Many professions and hobbies require risk-taking, and lots of folks won’t go near them. Maybe risk-taking genes do exist.

If they do, Navalny was a prime example. Risk-taking drove his decisions and activities. His moves affected Russian politics and ultimately influenced the entire world. His wife, moving forward courageously, will illustrate and teach more about risk-taking and stamina in life-challenging situations. Her life will be/is being challenged already by Putin’s government.

Thanks to all the brave Russian dissidents who preceded this moment. You Go, Girl!

Dear Friends: Despite Putin’s mean, aggressive suppression, Pussy Riot Lives On! Diana

Monday, February 19, 2024

Yesterday, this beauty accompanied her person to my checkout station. She’s a mixed breed: Afgan Hound and Aussie. She has an Afgan’s head and that sighthound’s long coat. Her body is stocky, an Aussie-type. Her person adores her, and me, too, upon sighting her.

While working, I have fun saying hello to the dogs there in person. I also get to meet some not inside the store because customers being checked out tell me about their dogs. I’m a “dog person,” and that topic easily comes up. Many customers reach for cell phones, search for photos of their dogs, and share them with me. Those moments are among the best in my workdays.

It’s part of what makes this little city’s biggest department store a kind of family place for its customers and employees. There’s lots of familiarity; for example, regardless of whether I’m working in Intimates, Dresses, Juniors, or the Home and Men’s Departments, customers tell me vignettes, a little about themselves and their families, dogs, and travels, upcoming and past.

I try hard (and often fail) to remember faces and names correctly and who’s told which stories. Sometimes, I don’t recognize my ex-coworkers who shop up shopping. Usually, they identify themselves and we enjoy reunions. My memory distractions are because of focusing on technical elements in my working role. The store’s cash registers, populated with minds of their own, make major a goal of operating them quickly and accurately.

Usually, I recognize customers returning and bringing their dogs and recall their stories.

Dear Friends: This pet-friendly city puts dogs and horses right up there with sports. Diana

Sunday, February 18, 2024

I’m looking outside at the snow mounds on fence posts and dreading today’s drive to work. Yesterday, the roads were terrible, snowy-slick–and in late afternoon treacherous, especially while rounding the roundabouts. Coming home in the late evening was worse. Some big-truck drivers and risk-takers disliked my 20 mph speed. Despite the threateningly slick street conditions, some were aggressive, racing frighteningly close to pass my car. Finally, I felt lucky to reach my turn-off from the main drags.

Last night, the key streets became plowed and today’s driving might be less awful. The department store where I work faces too few staff in this weather. I resist calling to be out for almost any reason. First, I’m a trooper who doesn’t take working commitments lightly; and second, I tend to overthink situations but am a team player.

Coworkers who avoid driving today will short-staff the store. I’ll get ready to go in earlier than scheduled–and yes, will drive at my usual 20 mph, or slower–despite the threatening, nutsy Road Yahoos.

Dear Friends: This fierce February weather blast soon will become history! Diana

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Overnight, a little more snow fell, making this morning a freezer. Exactly as the current lousy February weather hit, an electrical component for the horses’ watering troughs failed, making the heaters quit. Since it’s too snowy and cold to work outside replacing an electrical bit, ice-chopping becomes, hopefully temporarily, another barn area routine.

The cold weather’s slick streets discouraged driving, so few customers entered the department store where I work part-time. My shift was quiet and boring, it felt way long. I’ll add that it will please my San Antonio reader, Ava, to know that her caution to “Stop buying!” stayed in my head, and I didn’t kill dull moments (as often happens) by shopping around for myself.

She works part-time at a Dollar Store, likely an optimal environment for us who shop where we work. That store carries most household needs, some food items on the cheap, and a few wearables on the sparse. A Dollar Store could be a wise alternative if I want to leave my current workplace to save more earnings.

Well, today is today–snowy and cold. Horses already are lined at the fence and watching for me coming with hay. Ahead, there’s hay to tow, ice to chop, and chickens to feed, and this afternoon, there are outside working hours–hopefully, not dull lags. But I see new snow falling again and curtailing potential department store busyness.

Dear Friends: The very beautiful outside mostly draws our area’s snow enthusiasts. Diana

Friday, February 16, 2024

A frozen morning, cold and snowy, a Christmas card image. Another day of schlepping outside for just long enough to feed my animals. The past two days, mine off from work became lost in the harsh weather. Today, returning to work might be a slower gig, post-Valentine’s.

In the header photo, my coworker, Johnnie, who works in Shoes, tries on a pair of knee-high crazy gold boots. The Store actually sold some of those; I can’t imagine who’d wear them, but my imagination has limits. I could barely grasp that high-schoolers attending February’s winter formals in very fancy dresses were accessorizing by wearing Converse Sneakers–the “in thing.”

Along that line, I have a pair of saddle oxfords. In my day, those were “the thing,” and I occasionally wear them to work these days. It’s surprising how many people notice and compliment me on those saddles. For many, the style triggers lots of memories.

There also were the old days of white buck shoes, with little powder pillows for dusting and maintaining the white. I might explore if white bucks are available still. Wearing them to work would be fun.

Dear Friends: Old and dated needn’t be awful; “from the past” so may delight. Diana

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