An open book journey of Christopher William Klein
Three digital images using multiple programs in an attempt to fire up my creativity.
Greetings: October passed very quickly and was a bit of a roller coaster ride. There's a lot of self-doubt in reflection right now, but I am confident that I will rise above...but I yanked it back in the end......
Kelly has returned from her vacation, her cheerful demeanor brightening the atmosphere. As the first of the month rolls in, our store is bustling with activity, and the demands of our customers keep us on our toes. Throughout the day, we worked diligently to maintain order amidst the chaos. The task of restocking shelves felt endless, and there was a palpable tension in the air as everyone strived to keep pace. With several new employees still acclimating to the rhythm of the workplace, the energy was a mix of excitement and apprehension.
The most significant incident of the day erupted when I found myself at odds with a member of the housekeeping staff. She was engrossed in a personal conversation with the manager on duty, seemingly oblivious to the world around her. When I politely interrupted to notify the manager that a customer had been waiting at the customer service desk for nearly ten minutes, I was met with a sharp glare. The situation was urgent; the man was anxious to purchase his lottery tickets before the machine closed.
This particular staff member carries an air of self-importance, convinced that everyone should halt their tasks to accommodate her priorities. I could sense that this confrontation was indicative of larger tensions that will inevitably surface again. Despite her attitude, I remained composed and reported the incident through the appropriate channels. Now, she's giving me the silent treatment once more; a familiar pattern that I've encountered three or four times already. She will have to find a way to move past this.
After completing my shift, I decided to call it a day. With my rideshare goals already met, it felt like the perfect moment to head home and unwind from the whirlwind of the day's events.
Unfortunately, I'm not talking about political confrontations or global events; just the workweek that has finally come to a close. After a long and demanding week, I can't express how relieved I am to embrace two well-deserved days off. This morning was particularly productive; I managed to get all my tasks in order, which gave me a sense of accomplishment and readiness for the week ahead. I took the time to set up my new blog and journal, putting everything in place for what I hope will be a productive and fulfilling month. Ideally, I'd love to sprinkle in a bit of enjoyment as well; that would certainly be a welcome change.
I decided to tackle a random task from my annual To-Do List today. It's funny; I can't quite recall why I felt compelled to work on this specific item, but it involved getting accustomed to wearing heels. I've got a stylish pair that I typically wear during my morning activities, and I'm pleasantly surprised at how well I seem to be adapting to them. As I navigate this small but significant change, I find myself wishing I could remember the original motivation behind this goal. I'm sure the reasoning will come back to me at some point; it always does.
After work, I found myself with a bit of extra time on my hands since I didn't have to drive for my rideshare gig tonight. So, I decided to treat myself to some classic Star Trek; the original series. It felt like the perfect remedy for my need to unwind. I was in the mood for something light and nostalgic, a sharp contrast to my recent viewing of "American Horror Story." To be honest, I haven't been enjoying the Roanoke chapter; it feels too reminiscent of those overdone ghost-hunting tales or the vibes of the "Blair Witch Project." I've never really been fond of retrospective horror stories; they just don't resonate with me, and I doubt my feelings will shift any time soon.
As for my upcoming two days off, I've got a plan in place. Tomorrow morning promises to be busy with a long list of errands to tackle, but once those are out of the way, I should have plenty of time to kick back and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation for a day and a half. The thought of unwinding is already making me feel lighter!
..You may need it......
Last week was really good for my rideshare business. Even though I faced some frustrations with Walmart, I managed to get through it. Today was a planning day for the upcoming week. With today and tomorrow off, I took the time to review my finances and set everything up so that I only have a bit of research to do tomorrow regarding the Uber issue.
Today marked the beginning of my two-day respite from work, and I was determined to make the most of it. Fortunately, my intention was to dive headfirst into my to-do list, but I quickly realized that not every plan plays out as expected. In an effort to adapt to the changing landscape of mental health, I recently decided to enlist the help of a therapist. My aim was to maintain a balanced mental state, but I've encountered a series of missteps along the way.
My first attempt at therapy was through the complimentary services offered by Walmart, which connected me with a life coach. I found myself wondering what sort of qualifications are necessary to take on such a role. The sessions felt somewhat superficial, as the coach seemed to rely heavily on platitudes like "don't worry, just be happy." While I appreciate the concept of positive reinforcement, I was looking for something deeper and more substantive. It dawned on me that a life coach was likely not the right avenue for my needs.
Determined to find a more suitable solution, I next sought out a local therapist for in-person sessions. To my surprise, my first appointment felt somewhat amusing in retrospect; the therapist was significantly younger than me and appeared to have only a fraction of my life experience. After our initial meeting, she was honest enough to admit that she found my diverse life experiences daunting and preferred not to continue our sessions. Though it might be disheartening, I appreciated her candor.
Fast forward to today, I decided to utilize the free referral service at work once more, hoping this time to find a therapist who could truly help. Unfortunately, I encountered another uncomfortable scenario. The therapist I met radiated an air reminiscent of a character straight out of a horror film centered around toxic masculinity. Within just the first 15 minutes, he unleashed a torrent of unsolicited advice that made me deeply uncomfortable. His recommendations included taking charge and exerting dominance over those around me, likening it to being an "alpha wolf among sheep." He asserted that it was the duty of strong, masculine figures to subjugate the weaker.
Two decades ago, I might have naively bought into such notions, but today, that rhetoric felt utterly unhelpful and outdated. The advice struck me as not only impractical but also fundamentally wrong. Briefly, I contemplated pursuing an ethics complaint against him, but then I reminded myself that there are people who genuinely subscribe to these beliefs. It's not my role to pass judgment on his ideology. I've realized that I don't need to conform to any traditional notions of masculinity, nor do I need to project dominance to validate my self-worth. While I may give therapy another chance in the future, I think a break is necessary for now.
After concluding that session, I proceeded to a scheduled physical examination with my new doctor, Khalaid. He turned out to be a warm and approachable individual. During our appointment, he thoroughly reviewed my medical history, made updates to my medication regimen, and congratulated me on my recent weight loss—an accomplishment that wasn't my primary focus but still felt nice to hear. Khalaid confirmed that I am in excellent physical health, providing a much-needed boost following the disheartening experience I had earlier in the day.
Subsequently, I headed to Xfinity to return some equipment and ensure that my account was completely terminated. I found myself fairly annoyed to learn that we would still receive a final bill despite closing the account prior to the billing cycle's conclusion. Nevertheless, I decided not to dwell on this issue just yet.
After dropping off the equipment, I took some time to explore local thrift shops, stopping by Goodwill and the Salvation Army. Unfortunately, my search for a hidden treasure yielded no significant finds. At Goodwill, I even ventured into the bin section, only to discover it was a wasteland devoid of anything worthwhile. Following my thrift-store escapade, I checked a few personal errands off my list before finally returning home to unwind. While I still have quite a bit to tackle during this period of downtime, I've chosen to let those tasks wait until tomorrow. For now, I'm ready to rest and recharge.
..let's swim......
Today was focused on side gigs. Although rideshare opportunities are becoming more stable, the situation is still uncertain. I spent a significant part of the morning exploring alternative side gigs, but I'm not sure how to figure out the best options. There are many possibilities, and it will take some time to sort everything out. I also reviewed the projection maps for Lyft, and since I will be working the next six days after today, if I can stay busy, it might turn out to be a good week. That would be nice.
At the outset, I want to express my disappointment regarding Jerri Green's narrow defeat to Marsha Blackburn in the recent Tennessee gubernatorial race. Green presented a compelling vision for the future of our state and would have made an exceptional governor. Losing by such a slim margin; just about 1%; is disheartening, especially when it feels like a significant portion of the electorate is still influenced by misleading narratives that distort the truth. On a broader scale, however, it seems we've witnessed what many are calling a blue wave wash over the United States. Democrats have now secured control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, a remarkable shift that has also seen them gain several governorships that were once held by Republicans. As we move forward, we'll need to grapple with the inevitable complaints from the current leadership, who will likely contest the results for the next two years. But for now, let's take a moment to celebrate the progress that has been made.
Shifting gears, I had a remarkably productive day today. I finally took care of my long-overdue haircut, which left me feeling rejuvenated and more like myself again. I can't help but reminisce about the days when my hair used to flow long and unruly, requiring extensive care, including daily washing rituals. There was also a time when I sported a beard, but now the thought of maintaining either my long hair or beard feels exhausting.
After tending to my grooming, I redirected my focus to preparing the pool for winter. I meticulously took down the filter, carefully disassembled each component, cleaned everything thoroughly, and ensured it was securely stored away. It turned out to be a more time-consuming task than I had anticipated, but it felt good to check that off my list.
I didn't stop there; I dove into a comprehensive cleaning spree throughout the house. I tackled my air fryer, wiped down my desks, and spruced up the entryway. In addition to these chores, I also organized the upper bathroom and diligently sorted through my mail and an overflowing stack of magazines. With a sense of accomplishment, I even updated my 3D software, making it ready for future projects.
Later in the day, I devoted some time to exploring new recipes and watching creative reels, which inspired some culinary creativity. I also spent about two hours playing my saxophone, losing myself in the music, which always brings me joy. Beyond that, I felt a renewed motivation to write, which has been drying up lately. I made considerable progress on clearing out my archived inboxes and tackled a few other projects I've wanted to get to for a while.
Despite all these accomplishments, I find myself in a bit of a funk, which is frustrating. I wanted to lift my spirits with some feel-good movies, but ironically, I can't even remember what I watched, which only adds to my sense of restlessness.
Looking ahead, tomorrow brings the return to work, and I have a demanding six-day stretch lined up. It's hard to believe that I'm just 10 days away from my anniversary at Walmart. I'm uncertain whether this milestone will bring a sense of relief, new revelations, or anything significant at all. Still, I can't shake the feeling that something in my routine needs to change.
..just a normal day......
It's back to work and the beginning of a six-day workweek. The store was generally calm, with only a few noteworthy incidents. A young boy attempted to steal an electric razor, and the hill people came in, managing to avoid me for most of their visit, but I don't believe they left with anything. There were a couple of minor mistakes, and a few people dressed inappropriately, trying to get attention. We encountered an issue with all of our cashiers being underage, which prevented them from selling alcohol. However, I've been added to the register roster, so now I can handle those transactions. The night went smoothly, and we stayed on track with everything. There are some rumors about impending big changes, but I'm not ready to discuss those yet.
Everything feels irritating lately. I have a sense that it's my perspective that's causing this irritation, rather than the situations themselves. I managed to push through the morning, and I'm trying out a new routine that allows me to get everything done in under two hours. So far, it's working pretty well. You'd think having my schedule organized would be a good thing, but it was still annoying. I completed my tasks with time to spare and even managed to take a nap. Unfortunately, I had negative dreams during the nap, which added to my irritation.
When I got up and started moving, my left hand cramped for no reason, which was annoying. I stopped by Walmart to pick up my medications, but only one of the two was ready. You guessed it; irritating. A regular customer came in and was being flirtatious. I know she's harmless, but she tends to be flirty whenever she's not with her girlfriend, and I found that irritating too. Usually, they come in together, and when they don't, the flirty behavior is apparent. I get that they're harmless, but it still annoys me.
After work, I activated the rideshare app, but there were no requests on the map. That was the final irritation of the day. Right now, I'm exploring other sources of income, and I think that's putting me on edge. Unfortunately, looking for these different opportunities means I have to communicate with people. I've discovered that over 90% of the available options are scams. While I can identify them as scams, it's frustrating enough to make me want to hunt these scammers down and do something out of a crime thriller. Although I would never actually do that, the thought crosses my mind.
Today, I spoke to someone who told me to send them $1.00. Just one measly dollar. In return, they would send me a list of people interested in getting rich. I took the first name off the list, put my own there, and then contacted everyone on it to get them to send me a dollar. Seriously, pyramid schemes should have faded away by the time I was in my 20s. I can't believe they're still around!
Another one I encountered was even more aggressive. A company was trying to recruit investors without offering a product, foundation, or clear idea. They simply helped people establish LLCs and then enlisted those companies to recruit more investors. Unsurprisingly, it was another pyramid scheme. A large portion of the opportunities I've come across are similar to this; unbelievable!
I think I need to take a day off and do nothing. Maybe I should get my fishing license reinstated and spend a day fishing, perhaps bringing along my art supplies. Fish like art, right? Anyway, since the rideshare was a bust for the day, I headed home, ate the last of my chicken wings with ramen noodles, and started the next chapter of American Horror Story. It's ironic that this series is labeled "cult" and starts with the election of Donald Trump. Oi.
..at least it is fresh hell......
The most significant issue I'm currently facing is the shortage of skilled workers throughout the company. I never realized how high the turnover rate at Walmart was until now. Today, I found myself correcting mundane errors. For instance, a self-service register displayed a message that said, "Input blocked, please clear input." A young lady who has been with us for about six weeks was unable to understand what it meant. In reality, it just indicated that something was blocking the input. After waiting almost ten minutes for her to resolve it, she called me over, and I simply reached down and pulled out a worn $1 bill. This isn't rocket science, but many people are quite afraid of making mistakes.
The atmosphere was a bit tense today. Simeon left early after running the morning shift, and some others were becoming overly confident, which added to the stress. I believe things will eventually calm down, but I'm not sure when that will happen. I pushed through the day, and overall, it went relatively well. I'm looking forward to the upcoming training sessions across different divisions within the store, though I'm not holding my breath for immediate changes. I'm about a week away from my six-month anniversary, and I know that could bring about some significant shifts.
When it comes to the personal side of my day, the story is a bit different. The morning went well; I easily worked through my routine and even had some extra time. I spent some time writing, played my saxophone, and started overhauling my 3D printer. I'm trying to get everything organized, but it seems to be taking forever. I made meatballs for lunch, but I really wasn't in the mood for them. Unfortunately, I had a minor setback when I sneezed and pulled a muscle. That could serve as the start of a great joke about getting older! However, it did affect the rest of my day. All things considered, I'll count today as a positive day, despite a few negative moments.
..What? A world?......
It felt like Chinese water torture. Although any single little thing that happens can usually be managed easily, when they occur one after another, they wear down your spirit. It could be something as minor as a dropped bottle of Caribbean juice or front-end workers repeatedly asking to go outside to push carts when there are plenty already available. Then there are the managers who disappear to do stocking while people line up at customer service, or the fact that we're putting the wrong register tape on the back of each register because we've run out of the proper kind. We only had five boxes left, which lasts about a month.
On top of that, untrained people are being put in charge without any instructions or credentials. This is how my day went. I received information that there might be a new position opening soon after Thanksgiving, and I was told I would do a good job in it. I watched one of my fellow employees get reprimanded for arrogance, and I gradually worked my way through an overabundance of candy that was sitting on a rack.
By the end of the day, I was looking forward to driving for Lyft, but that turned out to be another frustrating experience. Ironically, I can say that both figuratively and literally, as my last ride was a pickup from Memphis Hunt and Polo. The passengers I picked up were snobbish and had a psychological condition that prevented them from traveling over 20 miles an hour, which consumed a lot of time for just three rides. Overall, it was an annoying day.
I am trying to keep things on track. Yesterday was rough for me because I sneezed and pulled a muscle in my abdomen. Last night, I hoped that it would heal and everything would be okay. I decided not to get up the first time I woke up, nor the fifth time. I ended up staying in bed for a total of nine hours by choice. I'm not sure if I can maintain this in the long term, but it felt good.
When I finally got up and started moving around, my abdomen felt better, and I was able to complete my morning routine. Due to the strain on my abdomen, I took it easy on my exercise and skipped my shoe walking. Shoe walking is a new form of exercise I've been using to help build my leg strength. It may sound unusual, but since I started this process, I haven't experienced any leg cramps. I learned this technique from an influencer while watching RuPaul. He mentioned that as he got older, he started walking in heels to strengthen his calves, and it worked for him. I don't want to follow that path too far, but if walking in heels helps my legs, then so be it.
I double-checked the information on my fishing license, and it does need to be reinstated. I've started making plans to explore more in Lyra moving forward. After speaking with CJ at work, he provided me with a method to refine my process and achieve better results. I continued working on my daily habits, such as handling email and journaling, and I also focused on my backlog of tasks.
I did some planning for the podcast, which has been long overdue. I'm working on recipes that are almost a year old at this point, and I've brainstormed ideas for alternate income sources. Additionally, I've made some progress with my writing. I updated my 3D software and did a bit of work on my 3D printer.
Overall, things are going well on a personal level, at least for now. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
..Is this an alternate universe?......
The most noticeable aspect of today was the new skill set I was developing. Everything was running smoothly, and I approached Simeon. He asked me to walk with him, and we started a pick walk, a process in which a Walmart employee shops for a customer. It's quite straightforward, but there are important details that need to be followed. You don't serve one customer at a time, and everything must be precise. About ten minutes into it, he handed the task over to me and told me to finish. It was easy enough; he checked my work, and I did well.
I also had an interesting experience in a managerial role. A customer came in through the front door, extremely upset because her online grocery order had not arrived. She had come to claim her items, but there was no record of the order at the back. Since no one was available to help, I accessed the appropriate application to find the order and went to the back to discuss it with the online grocery team. It turned out there was a glitch in the program causing certain orders, specifically flash orders, not to appear correctly. I managed to get someone assigned to pick her order immediately and returned to the front to inform the customer.
While I was there, I found two managers working on the issue, so I held up my phone to show them that it was resolved. They were very appreciative, and so was the customer.
I spent a significant portion of the day pushing carts because we were short on cart pushers. I had a conversation with the general manager, who told me I was doing a good job. It was a simple acknowledgment, but she made it a point to do this in a private setting, which was unusual. I stocked more candy at the front and worked on the backstop cart, albeit quite slowly.
Eventually, the day came to an end, and it was time to drive around Memphis for a while. My first ride was a worker heading to their job, the second ride had six people in my little Kia going to Silky O'Sullivan to have a good time with someone else picking up the tab, and the final ride was with two drunk girls who were unsure of their address. Thankfully, someone had put the address in for them. It wasn't the greatest night, but it certainly wasn't the worst either.
I was hoping to enjoy some extra sleep this morning, but that wasn't meant to be. Yesterday, I really enjoyed it, but I couldn't replicate that experience today. Maybe tomorrow. I got up and moving in a decent amount of time and managed to complete my entire routine. I was careful with my exercise and physical activities because I still have a stitch in my side. The last time this happened was almost three years ago, and I'm pretty sure I know what it is. It won't get better or worse for the most part; it will just annoy me for a while before eventually going away. At least that's what I'm hoping.
I had time to catch up on everything in the morning and even read a bit about some side hustles—I need to figure that out soon. I did some reading and writing, and I worked on my magazines and downloads.
When I got home in the evening, I had a bowl of ramen noodles while watching the old Star Trek series. I'm finding that after almost 50 years, I've forgotten many of the storylines. I'm not sure whether I find that interesting or disturbing.
..not so tough......
It looks like this is going to be a week of learning new skills. Yesterday, I learned how to pick groceries for online orders, and today I learned how to handle claims. The process wasn't very difficult, but it was quite time-consuming. I managed to work on both the front end and the back end of the process. Overall, there were only about five items that I couldn't process because they required special handling.
The rest of the day was a bit hectic but manageable. After leaving Walmart, I tried to do rideshare, but it seemed like someone was playing games. There were several of us sitting in the parking lot, and we would each get a ride request, but just as we were about to pull out, the request would be canceled. This happened to me multiple times until I finally gave up and headed home.
The title of this paragraph holds some significance, but it has absolutely nothing to do with Scooby-Doo. While the idea of living the carefree life of a laid-back hipster, always so stoned that he thinks his dog can talk to him, sounds interesting, I don't think I would choose that lifestyle; at least not at this point in my life. I have always had a lot of respect for Shaggy, though I have no clear reason why. Perhaps it's because he was the most eccentric character and the only one who owned a van. What an unusual rationalization!
With that, I will step out of the world of cartoons, at least for now. This morning was excellent, featuring two hours of heel work that left my legs tired but not cramped, along with a lot of catching up on things I had fallen behind on. One might assume that I would feel better after such productivity, but this is where the title of this paragraph comes into play with the keyword: RUT. I feel like I'm in a rut, and I have no idea how to get out of it. The grand plans of mice and men have crashed against the rocks.
And with that, I will mix my metaphors and wax poetic. Why? Because it amuses me right now. I accomplished a lot today, yet I don't feel satisfied, and it's starting to get on my nerves. I understand this may be related to the extended workweek I've had, but that doesn't solve the underlying issue. Maybe there isn't a problem at all, just my perspective. So, with that, I will close out the day and wait for tomorrow.
..then we are into the holiday season......
Fire and flame might seem a bit dramatic as an explanation for my day, but it's not too far off the mark. My frustrations finally got the best of me. One of the most significant problems I face is that people leave things lying around the store. I could tolerate it if it were just a phone here, a radio there, or a box cutter somewhere else. However, the situation is much worse. What people leave scattered throughout the store are items like Top Stock carts or baskets filled with wrapping plastic and broken-down boxes. They finish their assigned tasks and walk off, leaving the mess for someone else to clean up.
For instance, there has been one Top Stock cart sitting just off the front end for three days. Since my primary job is observation, I took it upon myself to grab the cart, move it to the back of the front end, and disassemble all the boxes, tossing them into a cart for recycling while keeping an eye on the customers. In the hour it took to handle the cart, I stopped 11 people from wandering off with items they hadn't paid for. It was one of those days.
After completing my cardboard mission, I pushed the remaining items back to the back-stock area, informing someone about what they were. One of the back room workers was quite surprised that I provided that information, as usually, when the front end drops something off, they don't say a word. I noted that for future communication. I also took my own recycling back, and once that was handled, I felt much better about the front end with that eyesore gone.
The night was hectic but ran smoothly overall. There were two separate incidents that required my attention, and I am quite proud of how I handled them. The first incident involved a customer who did not speak English but was armed with a receipt for close to 100 items. The manager on duty was attempting to resolve the issue, but the communication barrier was too great. I used my translator to get an overview of the situation and learned that the customer was stating that the cashier had failed to provide her with about 12 of the items on the receipt. Ironically, ten of these were the most expensive items she purchased, and the other two were cans of beans.
Typically, this kind of issue would be handed over to Simeon for a full video investigation. However, I had the time, and the manager on duty had access to the cameras, so we sat together and reviewed the entire transaction. We were able to see that the customer personally loaded each of the missing items into her cart; the only items actually missing were the two cans of beans. Using my translator, I explained this to her in fairly good Spanish, and she appeared quite sheepish. I think she was hoping no one would communicate with her and that she could just receive some free items, but that is just my opinion.
The second incident involved one of our local vagabonds, who was wandering around the store for about two hours, mostly begging for money from everyone he encountered. This is not the first time this has happened, and it probably won't be the last. We eventually addressed the issue together with our security officer, and we ended up ejecting him from the store. It was uneventful but noteworthy because it involved direct asset protection rather than the passive protection I usually engage in.
After I left Walmart, I found that Lyft services were practically nonexistent, so I headed home.
This morning was routine, and I managed to do about two hours of heel work, which is really helping. I caught up on nearly everything, adding to what I accomplished yesterday, and now I'm on track for a nice two-day relaxation session. I also found the batteries for my cameras and need to take care of that tomorrow in preparation for the Dixon on Wednesday. However, despite everything, I've been feeling a bit irritated by the situation.
When I got home this evening, I heated up my reward chimichangas and came across an advertisement for ChatGPT. I've been avoiding artificial intelligence because I feel it can be either a crutch or a cheat. Many people use AI to write fiction or even factual content, create beautiful images, songs, or other things that should belong to artists. The advertisement featured someone I follow who has recently embraced AI. I've followed her for about a year, and she used to share my concerns about artificial intelligence.
However, she discussed her experience and pointed out that while unskilled creators might abuse AI platforms, there is also a side of artificial intelligence that can enhance productivity through organization. She provided examples of how she has used AI effectively. As a jewelry maker, she took pictures of about 1,000 of her creations and was able to catalog everything quickly with descriptions thanks to AI. The entire process took about an hour, and now that I have the program installed, I'm excited to tackle its heavy learning curve; beyond just creating something fake.
Over the next two days, I have several tasks I want to accomplish, and we'll see how that goes. I also have two movies from the 1980s that I'd like to watch, though I'm not sure if I'll get around to them.
..Did I really want to do this?......
Today at work was spent reviewing tasks. The last six days were exhausting, and I definitely felt it when I finished work last night. I briefly considered driving for a rideshare service today, but since it's still early in the week, the demand map was quite low. This likely means that the end of the week will be challenging. I double-checked my schedule for the upcoming weeks, and it appears we are about to enter the busy holiday season.
What I had advertised as a day of rest turned out to be anything but restful. I was up and out of bed early, eager to take on the world. Unfortunately, nobody informed the world that it was supposed to yield to me, so it became an uphill battle.
After going through my morning routine without any issues, I headed out to the thrift shops. My first stop was the Salvation Army, but it was unimpressive. It seemed they had changed their pricing model, and many items were terribly overpriced. I saw a denim jacket priced at $49. Out of curiosity, I checked Amazon when I got home, and it was priced at the same amount. This could be an interesting business model, but it might drive them right into the ground.
Having found little at the Salvation Army, I moved on to Goodwill. I wandered through the store and spotted a few things of interest, but nothing I felt was worth pursuing. Next, I headed to the bargain bins. My previous visits there had been quite disappointing, but today was different. I actually found an entire set of golf clubs, though I resisted the urge to buy them since golf clubs require access to expensive golf courses. Instead, I found a sandwich bag filled with clips that could be used for crafting or other purposes.
Then, I stumbled upon an interesting prize: a spice rack containing 16 spice jars. What made it unique was that all the jars were square, and I was thrilled to find it. However, no happiness comes without a bit of hassle. The manager initially refused to sell me the spice rack because it contained food; none of the jars were empty. Just as I was about to protest, a fight broke out between two patrons over a single item. I won't mention what it was because it was absurd, but they were really going at it.
In a moment of impulse, I turned around and shouted commands at the top of my voice. To my surprise, they actually stopped fighting and looked at me. I warned them that I would take serious action if they didn't settle down, especially with children present. I don't know what look was in my eyes, but it seemed to make them listen. I turned back to the manager, and she agreed to sell me the spice rack for $2, provided I promised to remove the food items, which I intended to do anyway.
Having completed my wandering adventure, it was time to return home. I took care of the computers and ran a deep scan for malware and other junk, then managed my downloads. I played the 1989 movie "Millennium" in the background and recalled that the book was much better, though Kris Kristofferson and Cheryl Ladd gave decent performances for that era.
After organizing my magazines, it was time for some heavy lifting. Laura has been planning to swap out Halloween for Christmas, which involved moving the Halloween decorations into the attic and bringing down the Christmas decorations. I took on that task and spent about 90 minutes completing the full cycle. Now, Halloween is well stored, and Christmas decorations are ready to be put out.
The adventure was exhausting. Before starting all this, I made myself two steak sandwiches, thinking they would fill me for the day. However, I burned a lot of energy dealing with the boxes, and by the time I was finished, I was famished. Luckily, we had some delicious hand-rolled sushi for dinner.
As the day wound down, I wasn't quite finished yet. I cleaned the banister leading to the second floor, which made me feel much better. I also removed the 24-inch zipper from my leather jacket since it needs replacing, and I needed to make way for a new one. I'll have to remember to pick one up—maybe I can convince my family to do that after we visit the Dixon Museum and Gardens tomorrow. If not, I could run out and get one once we get home.
..So I will sit back and watch, for now......
There are some developments happening at Walmart, but they don't concern my store. There is upheaval within the management ranks, and everything is being processed through a rumor mill. It's important to accept the information for what it is and to sit back and relax until everything becomes clear. However, this situation is likely to create gaps in the management structure for the district, and I'm curious to see how they will address that.
As for my store, we are encountering some challenges caused by health issues, but everyone is hesitant to discuss that topic. Tomorrow, when I return to work, it will mark my six-month anniversary. This is a pivotal time when things could potentially change. Will they change? I have no idea, but we can only hope for the best.
The highlight of today was a trip to the Dixon Gallery and Garden. Despite living near Memphis for 30 years, I had never visited before, and it turned out to be quite a treat. I was truly impressed by the variety of artists represented in the gallery. At first, I thought the artworks were replicas, but on our way home, my wife discovered that they were originals. This is quite impressive for what could be considered a small-town gallery.
Although it's autumn, the gardens still featured some vibrant flowering plants. I can only imagine how colorful it would be in the spring, but it was a pleasant walk nonetheless. We spent a couple of hours there, and it was very relaxing. Before heading to the Dixon, I managed to complete my daily tasks, checking everything off my list.
After our visit, we stopped by Walmart to pick up a zipper for my leather jacket, and then we visited the local market so my wife could gather ingredients for dinner and share a bit of gossip. Once we returned home, I sat down to work with some AI for a while and then watched movies while I worked on my leather jacket.
Even though I walk between five and seven miles a day at work, exploring the gardens at the Dixon really drained my energy. I had pizza for lunch and tacos for dinner, and then I decided to call it a day. Instead of staying up late, I went to bed early and planned to split my sleep tomorrow morning before going to work.
The only other thing I accomplished was responding to an alleged debt from US Xpress. I find it remarkable that they would wait three years to bill me after I had cleared all debts when I resigned from the company on November 23, 2020. It seems like they are playing some sort of game by routing this through a collection agency. I'm determined to take action, and we'll see what the future holds.