Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Here’s the start of a couple of days off from my part-time job. Today, the horse fencing repair work could be completed. Doing that finishing will send me again as a customer to Home Depot for additional concrete and various other needs.

The other day I complained about Mr. Bill, an HD cashier I’d not met before. While he was checking out my fencing materials at his register, he said that would be his last day working at HD, and he gave me a couple of pencils. Later, I landed again at his register, and he gave me more free products. Now aware that on his last day, he was giving products away for free, I reported him.

I felt the reporting had solved my problem. It lightened the weight of having recognized insider theft. Actually, however, the Mr. Bill episode didn’t solve a problem. By heightening my awareness of insider theft, it added a dilemma.

Here’s why. The other day in my customer role and buying a starter setup for drip watering, I self-checked out. The boxed starter set had an easily identifiable SKU. A single other piece I was buying had no identifier, and I asked an overseeing cashier what to do. That person said, “Just take it.” I froze and then heard, “This job doesn’t give me time to spend looking up and identifying little pieces, so go ahead and take it!”

That added a piece to my Mr. Bill puzzle. Perhaps he and other cashiers routinely gave away products for free; and for whatever reason, he expanded the practice on his last day of work.

My new dilemma is about recognizing an organizational weakness behind lots of small value losses. I’m weighted by the question of what now to do if anything.

Most of the store’s cashiers are good people; many for years have worked there; they know from experience it takes time and effort to look up and identify SKUs to price small items. I understand and can sympathize; I prefer not to go blabbing.

In business, however, losses add up and are key drivers of price increases. Theft is a huge issue having several categories. There’s outsider theft, insider theft, and system-error theft. Businesses responding to outsider theft are installing lockable cages for high-value items. and to insider theft with training to reinforce company values, and to system-error theft with training designed to increase awareness and accuracy.

Dear Friends: I’ll decide what to do and will keep you posted. Diana

Monday, August 14, 2023

It’s likely too late in this season to start establishing a drip watering system for my small garden. However, I have obtained a boxed starter set and will set it up. Even in this late summer, if I manage to activate the system, it’ll ease watering; and early next spring will be at-the-ready.

“If it becomes active”…that’s my weasel phrase.

Friends long have insisted that it’s super-easy to install a drip system. So, several years ago, I began setting up a starter system and failed for several reasons. The instructions confused me for lacking an understanding of such as backflow prevention and moisture distribution. Finally, I managed to hook up and arrange, in my garden, the main thingamajig–a hose-like apparatus for providing water to various areas.

I was starting to feel hopeful, but soon everything fell apart.

The main thingamajig was pre-punched with holes. I needed to insert a sprinkling device into each hole. That proved impossible. I tried pushing devices into holes with my raw hand and arm strength. When that failed, I did some research and learned there’s a tool specifically designed to assist. I obtained one, tried using it to insert sprinklers, and found that accomplishing still was impossible.

Frustrated, I left everything in place and drifted off to reconsider my efforts. Eventually, I returned to the system, pulled it, and tossed all the pieces.

Now, here I am about to start over. These days, I’m not smarter and certainly not stronger. But I am full of determination. Hey, wasn’t it determination fueling my efforts the last time?

Dear Friends: Well, I’ll keep you posted. Diana

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Yesterday evening my horse fence appeared normal for the first time in years. Gone were weak areas of fencing that I had reinforced creatively with visible, catawampus post supports and weird wiring. The capable Gustavo had intently and creatively reworked bad spots, restrengthening them to soundness.

This week, Gustavo will return and repair the remaining spots of weak fencing.

It’s back to work for me today, with an early clock-in time.

While shopping several times for fence repair supplies the other day, I ran into a little drama. A cashier calling himself “Mr. Bill, ” checked me out twice, undercharging me both times.

The first time his giveaway was small–two 20-cent pencils. He tossed them to me, saying, “Happy Birthday, just take them.” To my surprise, he added, “Today’s my last here; I’m quitting. What can they do, fire me?” I left with the pencils that Gustavo needed, feeling confused over what to do about 40 cents of unpaid merchandise.

Later that day and shopping again, I loaded eight bags of concrete onto a platform cart. I tried to avoid Mr. Bill’s register, but his opened up first. A customer behind me refused to push ahead of me. He insisted I go to the empty register and started pushing my concrete to Mr. Bill.

When Mr. Bill said, “Four bags,” I didn’t correct him but wondered how much product he was giving away.

After the bags were loaded in my vehicle, I moved it and parked, re-entered the store searching for the manager on duty. I described what Mr. Bill was doing, showed my receipt, and asked to pay for four concrete bags and two pencils. The manager looked serious, thanked and checked me out. As I was leaving, he began focusing elsewhere, probably on Mr. Bill.

I had never before interacted with Mr. Bill. Who could know what motivated him to steal from the store blatantly? I embrace a good organization’s values and one biggie is employee honesty. A giant business like Home Depot with hundreds of locations, suffers greatly from the smallest thefts. For example, five dollars of loss multiplied across all its locations adds to millions.

Besides economics in general, the huge reality of theft is that it’s a key driver of higher prices.

Dear Friends: T’was a big day, repairing fence and squealing on a co-employee. Diana

Saturday, August 12, 2023

Gustavo did show up yesterday and repaired one of my two most flimsy, frightening sections of horse fencing. He’s a concrete expert with notably different ways of post-setting. First, he dislikes the popular style of QuikCrete that will set in 10-20 minutes; says it doesn’t hold up long and why my fence posts loosened and broke. Second, he prefers wire-tying fence fabric to posts over using U-nails as it’s stronger and lasts longer.

Several times yesterday, I hurried to and from Home Depot for supplies. He needed bags of old-style concrete, rebar-style wire ties, and cardboard tubular sleeves. This morning, Gustavo is returning, and my errand will be to find the 6″ screws he prefers over nails to connect top rails to posts.

His perception of what works best isn’t what fencers usually say. They prefer the fastest-setting concrete and also hammer-in U-nails. Gustavo, a believable perfectionist, yesterday reset a trio of broken posts into 21″ deep, wheelbarrow-mixed concrete. To my touch, the posts seemed rock solid, but wheelbarrow mixed concrete needs overnight to harden.

Today, he will repair the flimsy posts on a boundary with my neighbor. My horses lean into the fence and drool at the adjoining grassy property. They boom both posts and rails.

Dear Friends: This experience is making me better educated and more capable. Diana

Friday, August 11, 2023

After standing me up a couple weeks ago, Gustavo, a skilled laborer, called yesterday wanting to work for me. He survived my scolding over his not showing up or even calling by explaining that his cell phone had been on the blink. Sure, I believe that–and I also know he can handle almost everything related to property and home.

The header photo is of Gustavo several weeks ago working at my home.

He’ll be here early today to repair the scattered broken fence posts around the horse area. I’ve attempted alone to accomplish thost repairs, but my progress is slow because of too little time and energy for the work.

The broken posts are caused by my horses leaning into the fencing fabric and scratching their behinds against it. Seeing that happening makes me crazy, but horses are what they are. I will stop that behavior by having Gustavo install a solar charger and re-hotwire the fence.

Today will begin, at first, by seeing him show up. Since Gustavo initiated this, he probably will; but experience teaches, so who knows?

Dear Friends: Today might offer up better ways to repair broken posts. Diana

Thursday, August 10, 2023

The photo shows the Drainfield Restoration folks yesterday in action, repairing my clogged septic drain field. They are working with a huge machine that sends probes deeply into a section of impacted soil. At some point, the machine begins to pressurize mightily, injects pressure underground, and finally causes an explosion to loosen the soil in an impacted area.

Working on my field revealed juniper roots as causing the impaction. Their remedy included tearing out roots and clearing the drain lines. They finished by leaving me with proprietary chemicals and instructions to apply the chemicals at designated times throughout the next year.

They guarantee their work to customers that adhere to the maintenance instructions. Their method of clearing isn’t cheap but is worthwhile. The Drainfield people estimate they save each customer some fifteen or twenty thousand dollars to replace a drain field.

Upon moving here nearly twenty years ago, I barely understood the concept of septic and totally lacked a comprehension of drain fields. Well, now I’ve found it’s about living, learning, and saving to cover eventual maintenance work.

Dear Friends: The basics of living well include enjoying, learning, and saving. Diana

Wednesday, August 09, 2023

I surprised myself by shopping at the grocery store, Winco, and interacting with former coworkers.

I quit my cashiering job there almost a year ago without giving the store appropriate notice. It turned out that I had disappointed myself by leaving abruptly, regardless of my reasons. Since leaving, I’ve not gone there to shop and say hello to friends.

Days ago, a chance meeting in a Home Depot aisle with Stacy, one of my former coworkers at Winco, propped open the blockage in my head. Deciding to shop at Winco turned out to be fun.

Contrary to my expectations of being disliked for having jumped ship and now a forgotten person, former coworkers recognized me. We chatted and got up to date. A change has eased the cashiering work there, as now the store provides handheld scanners. When I worked there, my job often required me to heave and scan cumbersome items. That was during the pandemic, and the discount grocery was incredibly busy. My nonstop and often difficult work became a dislike.

The store’s management styles, too, were very disappointing, but it was my too-hard job that became a core driver for leaving.

Today, I’m happier for having returned and renewed some acquaintances. In the future, I will shop in the store. It’s part of a large and growing grocery chain and a very economical source for shoppers.

Dear Friends: Recognizing and overcoming self-anger lets a person be better. Diana

Tuesday, August 08, 2023

It’s easy to love today’s header dog; he was beyond relaxed while his person shopped.

It’s time to take my puppy Chase out shopping on a lead. He has been with me on hiking and horse trails, has met strangers and their dogs, and is more trusting and friendly. Now for the next step, and this week on one of my days off, him accompanying me to a business.

Sooner or later, it’s easy to count on everybody showing up at Home Depot. I work in the local Hardware Department situated near the store’s center and carrying construction tools. Its location and products draw customers (and their dogs) to Hardware and nearby aisles.

Yesterday, I was working at our key-cutting machine, heard my name, and turning, saw Stacy, a supervisor at Winco. Back in my cashiering days there, I loved working with her–a super person, open and sincere. Since quitting, I have missed Stacy. There, in HD’s aisle, we caught up with one another, and soon, we will get together again, and with her daughter, Autumn, another favorite coworker from my Winco gig.

A year ago, I quit Winco suddenly and without giving notice. I’ve felt embarrassed by my poor quitting behavior and uncomfortable about shopping there. Now, I will resume shopping at Winco to be more in touch with the friendly folks I miss.

Dear Friends: Workplaces are social environments, unique and powerful. Diana

Monday, August 07, 2023

On my next day off from my part-time job, I’ll resume regular workouts in a gym. My work in a busy tool/hardware department forces me to notice and address some physical weaknesses. I’ve learned it’s easy enough to lift items from the floor, but a struggle to lift something upward and toward a high shelf. Holding onto and lower items from high shelves is also difficult for me.

Upward and downward lifting are key elements in my role, and my coworkers willingly help. But if I’m alone in the department and a customer needs something highly-shelved, it’s my challenge to retrieve merchandise safely. Many customers volunteer to climb a ladder and do the bringing down, but that’s not allowable.

It’s time for routine strengthening exercises and working to improve my arm strength. That’s not enough, however, because it’s a core issue. Everything a body is capable of depends on core strength, and mine has evaporated over the years. A stronger core enhancing back muscles would strengthen my lifting capabilities and straighten my walking form.

Today, I’ll print the upcoming work schedule, identify my first day off, and take myself to one of two gyms (on different sides of town) where I’m a member. Dual memberships allow for quicker, easier access from anywhere I happen to be. That’s one thing, but actually going and doing regular workouts is entirely another thing.

Dear Friends: One’s never too old to address and tackle self-renewal. Diana

Sunday, August 06, 2023

Sometimes in the Hardware Department aisles, I meet folks from the past who were good friends and somehow have gone missing from my life. Yesterday, that happened.

I was helping a couple to find special nails when suddenly the young woman gasped, “Diana!” At my blank stare, she said, “We used to ride horseback together! and I love Pimmy, your donkey. Diana, it’s me, Gabby!”

Of course, dear Gabby! My young friend–now all grown up. Back when she was in college, we rode horseback together. Gabby was an excellent rider and without a horse, so a mutual friend, Kali Kiger, put us in touch. Gabby occasionally got a “horse fix” by riding my pony, Sunni. I’d be on my other mare. Pimmy, my donkey, would be following us loosely. The dogs would be along, too.

While completing her schooling, Gabby and her boyfriend created a closer relationship. That’s when she began having less time and interest in riding. We started to lose touch.

Through the years, I’ve missed Gabby’s friendly companionship, skilled ridership, and good handling of my horse. Now she’s back, thanks to my part-time hardware gig.

In the aisle, she introduced her boyfriend. Their relationship is good, and Gabby wants to ride again. We will link up soon. I’ll love that her rein-handling skills will refresh my horse’s responsiveness. She’ll be an excellent trail companion, and hopefully, explain how her path is evolving.

Dear Friends: Appreciating animals is universal and creates lasting bonds. Diana