Tales from the Trenches: The day that makes me say RRRRRR!

My day began with an illegible note left on my time card.  A co-worker decoded it for me and told me that it was something about the clock that was stolen. 

"What clock?"

"The one in the display that you did.  The one for $350.00."

Crap.

I went to hunt J- down, but she was off with someone else.  She said that she'd be right over.  And was she.  She went on about how it was stolen, how it happened before Wednesday because she hadn't seen it, about how I can't display anything expensive out there like that, to which I replied, "I can't keep every expensive thing under lock and key."  She was mad, then she left.

I get a call asking me to go to the office with an order that I had made up to hopefully have someone approve to send out.  It ended up being a closed door meeting in the boss' office. 

Lovely.

At least this meeting was better than how my day started.  They told me that my displays were beautiful and I had explained that I had displayed them in a display at the door that when people were shopping, they were within eye shot of the counter. 

Somehow, that failed the workers that were there that day.

The missing clock in question is a mission style wood clock that has a pendulum.  It is about 12" tall by about 12" wide.  It's not that small.  Still, someone successfully hauled out with it and managed not to be caught by camera or coworkers. 

That failure is not my fault, regardless to what my first encounter might insist.

I'm in the midst of completely flipping displays around.  The expensive clocks and hand crafted arts and crafts tiles that WERE in that display are now very high up in a display visible to the camera and to anyone who comes in the door.   I have one display that will be rather thin.  I threatened to put a note on the wall and leave it empty.  What would it say?  "Someone decided to steal something expensive from us, so that means that I don't have anything to display here now."

When I talked to my boss, with the gallery director and floor manager right there, I told all of them that what made me most mad was that someone looked at something, decided that they liked it and just took it.  Who does that?! 

K-'s solution is for us to have a gate and that we stop people and make them pay.  "Mom, did the clock have diamonds in it.  If it had diamonds in it, girls like those.  It could have been a girl!" 

RRRRRR.

Then, we have a woman who comes in and has been looking at an item for a while.  My coworker called me over.  The woman tells me, "I know what this price is, but I know that you've had it for a while.  I'll give you -- for it."  I told her that silver prices have gone up drastically and that artists set their prices.  We just sell the goods for the prices that the artists state.  "Well, I know it has been here for a while and saw it at a lower price than this at one time."  "That would be at sale time."  I told her it was not how we handled our business, but she pressed.  I said that I would go and check with the powers that be, but reiterated that this was not how we did things.  Turns out that the item had been with us for 4 years and they told me to let it go for the nearly 25% off.  I went back, told her that they did approve it, we do not do this, the item will not be able to be returned under any circumstance. 

Still, we are not a used car lot.

RRRRRRR.

We had a group of ladies that came through LOUDLY announcing about how expensive this was and that was (ranging in price from single digits to the $20.00 family.)  "I can go home and make this myself." 

Be my guest.

RRRRRRRR.

I was trying all day long to rest that was the clock adventure and every time I turned around someone else was in the display along with me or standing right where I needed to be or digging into the stuff that I was trying to handle.  Now, I understand that they were shopping, but when I'm shopping, I tend to shy away from the KINDLY SALES PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB!  If they have loot that I'd love to check out, I actually ask if it is okay.  Stunning concept, I know.

RRRRRRRR.

K- has a sore throat, but Hubs thinks that it is allergies since he is suffering from the same type of thing.  Allergies are big, bad stuff here right now. 

RRRRRRRR.

Hubs was flipping out because he received a jury duty summons for the exact week that he is having a big fishing derby and expecting 500+ to be in attendance.  I finally talked him into having me write a letter to try to get him excused from it.  He finally did, but still flipped out as I was writing it.

RRRRRRRR.

I went to lunch and there was such a long line for the microwave that I just decided to eat my lunch cold rather than waste the time heating up my food.  (Hot dogs and pork and beans.  No, we normally don't have that for dinner, but K- was asking for hot dogs for dinner on Sunday and we hadn't had them since the summer.)  One person has a minimum of three containers to heat.  She heats them all individually, sprinkles water, opens, closes, runs, stops, stirs . . . She's a minimum of 10 minutes alone.  There were two others waiting for rather thick soups.  Those would have been about 3-5 minutes.  Cold beans and wienies it was.  I was fine.  It matched the day.

RRRRRRRR.

I forgot to include the sales slips with the box of money tonight.  They'll have to get them in the morning.  My coworker tried to help me and bless her-- she never does the box.  I didn't realize that they hadn't been grabbed. 

RRRRRRRR.

Why all this clock bit needed to be surrounded around me when I wasn't the one who took it.  All I did was to display the darned thing.  It was in the center of a big display. 

RRRRRRRR!

I'm cranky.

TIV day in Pittsburgh

When I asked Sean if it was okay to get a picture, he asked if he could hug me.  (He asked Hubs the same thing.)  It was 27 degrees and being from California, I do believe he underestimated the cold.  He told us that he realized he had underdressed.

I won't be.  Thank you.

Now, with everything else you see here, you'll notice a battery in the back by the back flap.  It's just there.  Wired in.  I'm wondering how a tornado doesn't haul it away and how rain doesn't make it unhappy.

That's okay.  The geshnudle of wiring they have going on here is enough to frighten me to think how wet it gets in the TIV (she leaks a bit) and all of these things are exposed.  I think that I get the biggest kick out of whatever he has going on with the ignition.  Believe it or not, this was a brand spankin' new Dodge truck with heated leather seats when it started.  It was red.  Its not anymore.  It is cool, though.

Okay, we are science geeks.  We're not apologetic about it.  It is what it is.  Hubs and I met in a Climatology class in college.  We're really not surprised that our beginnings took us to Pittsburgh to meet the TIV team from Storm Chasers.

We started out and were doing okay.  Then, we got caught in a traffic jam on 279 (maybe) where it took us 30 minutes to go 2 miles, only to find three workman looking over a bridge, laughing and pointing. 

We finally got to the Carnegie Science Center and the lot was full.  They had overflow, so that was good. 

Here is the point where I tell you that they have the skinniest parking spaces known to man.  I mean, I think a Smart car might have issues with the space.  Surprisingly, everyone was very courteous about the massive spacial issues.  I mean, you'd have to be a Flat Stanley relation to not have door issues.  Still, no cramalama door marks on the RAV.  Whew.

We crossed the street, were making plans and noticed that the TIV was up front, one other person was there and other than that, no one was around.  I found Sean Casey freezing to death under a tree. 

We were able to talk to Sean for a few, get him to sign the 2009 Storm Chasers season DVD (Reed was on 2010 and we just couldn't go there), got a picture and then we found Brandon.  I did the "Can I do the cheesy fan thing and ask for you to sign this?" with Brandon and Marcus.  So, we got all of them to sign and it was a fun thing.

We walked down to The Andy Warhol Museum.  They've changed it quite a bit since we were there last.  I think that K- was maybe 2 if not a little younger.  This time, they had all 7 floors open, but no photos were allowed.  Bummer, dude.  I took so many photos in there last time.  What was nice was that we were able to go to all 7 floors and read things and not have to rush or have K- pester and hester and bug and be all hungry.  We left K- back here with my in-law's for her swim lessons and a birthday party. 

We found that we kept asking each other, "What do we do now?" since we had time to kill and no 7 year old with us to keep up the pace.

Since we did have some time to kill after Andy, we decided that for my in-law's, we would stop by the casino (The Rivers, if memory serves) and toss $5.00 at a machine for them.  We made it maybe 2 minutes, but probably less.  The noise, the lights, the smoke, the music, the amount of people.  We probably got 50 feet in and Hubs said, "You've got to be kidding me."  Well, not that we thought we were casino people anyhow, that confirmed it.  Yowza.

We had lunch back at the Science Center, went to a few Digital Dome shows (IBEX and one on how telescopes work), then we decided to check out the IMAX thing.  We ended up standing in lines from 6 - 7.  It sort of seemed like the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing.  You had to check in upstairs, then go back downstairs to stand in line for the movie.  The concession line was separate and l-o-n-g.  Thankfully, I wasn't in it for that long.  They offered popcorn and a medium soda with the lecture/movie ticket purchase.  They had one fountain drink dispenser, but all of the popcorn was popped ahead of time.  Still, I'm thinking that they should rethink the execution of that one. 

We got in and after my tripping up the steps and not face planting, we were able to sit in the middle.  Sean had a very informative power point presentation that he ended up winging.  Earlier, he told us that they wanted him to do this, so he had to have his wife send him the power point that he had done a year and a half ago and he couldn't even figure out why he had some of the photos in there that he had.  He did wing it, did just fine and then we had the movie. 

It was great.  I admit that it was different than I thought, but all along up until last season, I didn't realize that Josh Wurman held the money for his IMAX movie.  It was more a teaching tool, rather than an entertainment bit.  It makes sense though.  We enjoyed it and were stunned that while it was a sold out crowd, everyone (kids included) were all very polite and quiet during both the lecture part and the movie.  HOORAY!

You'd be glad to know that K- survived her first overnight just fine.  She had a great time at the party and at swimming.  She admitted that she missed us, and we missed her to.

We had a great weekend!

ETA:
Hubs asked if he could be the first to comment on my post.  Bless him, as I thought it was wonderful.  Well, that is except he wanted to correct me.  (Argh.)  He said that Sean repaints the TIV each year and works on it.  (I'm sure he does.)  He said that the battery bit in the back was just a temporary thing and that he knows it isn't left out there during chase season.  So, I stand corrected.  I would have wished for a more lovey-dovey comment from the Hubs.

We have babies!

Okay, not those kind of babies.  We have sprouts!  Just look!


We have collard green babies and basil babies and a holly hock baby and a sungold baby. 

I know that I've raved about it, but I truly do think that the seedling heat mat makes all the difference.  What I have is basically this, but my heat mat and seed tray sit in a styrofoam base, which keeps everything a little toastier.  There's a little notch in the styro base for the plug to come out.  Hubs found mine for $4.97 at a discount store.  For the first 48 hours or so, I kept the entire greenhouse closed up.  I've kept the mat on since I planted the seeds and started propping the lid up overnight starting Tuesday evening.  That way, air can circulate and keep (or cut down) on any mold growth.  We're zone 5, so we can't plant until at least May 15, but we're better to wait about a week from that.

My sister and I will be swapping my last year seed leftovers for some seed potatoes.  She's grown them before and was really rather pleased with her results.  I'm excited to get rolling with them! 

I've decided to loop a little garden swoop area around next to the shed.  We talked about it when the shed was set down on my beloved garden plot.  That will give me a place to put the collards and carrots.  I'll probably do green beans on an upside down tomato cage again.  That worked very well.  and didn't take a ton of space. 

Though I woke up this morning with my car licked with a dusting of snow, my green thumb is itching to get something into the ground. 

Smiles in my day:
-  K- had a great day and lunch wasn't an issue.  She talked to Mrs. S- about it and let her know what happened. 
-  Mrs. S- grabbed me up to slip K-'s book order books to me.  I ordered some Magic Tree House books, a Magic School House book and the Junior Novelization of Tangled for K- for her Easter basket.  (I'm horrible.  I don't do candy in her basket.  My MIL and my mom take care of that.  Don't worry.  She doesn't feel slighted.  She has never even mentioned it.) 
-  My SIL closed on her house today.  We're so excited for them!

Have a wonderful weekend!

The lunch time wall.

I heard a humming behind me while I was standing at the counter at work.  I looked and it was my cell.  I had turned the phone to vibrate while attending a meeting last night.

It was K-. 

I hadn't scooped it up in enough time to get her call.  I tried to call and there was no answer.  She was leaving me a message.

"Hi, Mommy.  It's me.  Um, at lunchtime today, I had to stand on the wall.  B- was talking and I got in trouble, but honest Mom, I didn't do it.  I love you.  Bye."

I tried my MIL's cell again and K- answered. 

"Mom, I didn't do it.  I didn't talk.  Honest, mom."

"K-, you're not in trouble.  I believe you. Tell me what went on."

She told me that B- was squashing a piece of bread into the floor and told K- to look at it.  It was a silent lunch, which is something they do if the noise level gets out of control.  Knowing that B- was talking, the monitor assumed K- was talking too and they were both sent to stand on the wall. 

K- did not get to finish her lunch.  She had a beautiful container of blueberries and grapes that she was unable to eat, which means that she had to be famished when she got out of school.  I don't send out of control portions, but I do send ample amount of good nutritional items to have her eat.  Her reflux is a fine balance that I work with.  Must not overfill.  Today, that was obviously not the problem.

K- also had to pick up trash left behind.  A true germaphobe's daughter shines through when she said, "And mom, they had me crawl under the table to get two forks that people had in their mouths!" 

Of course, I asked if she had washed her hands.

I was also irate. 

My child had been wronged.  The offending child realized the error of her ways and apologized to K-.  "Mommy, B- apologized and I forgave her."  I told her that I think that is great that she did that.  I told her that no, it wasn't right that she was punished for someone else's bad choices, but sadly that happens sometimes.

I've asked K- to talk to her teacher about what went on.  "Mom, can't you?"  I told her that I wasn't going to be able to always take care of these things for her and I needed her to handle this.  "Mom, can't you just write a note?"  I told her that I needed her to talk to her teacher and tell her that we talked about her not sitting next to B- at lunch for a while.  B- admitted the error of her ways.  K- forgave.  Still, the punishment stung enough to not want to repeat. 

I told my coworker that I was so glad that I wasn't the one to pick K- up at school today.  I had to rant about this for a while to a reasonable mom to process it. 

I'm sad for K-.  Did the punishment kill her?  No.  She is a law abiding citizen at school.  If she is at school and the rule would be to walk on her tip toes with a book on her head, she would do it with no questions asked.  She is a people pleaser.  She hates to make mistakes.  The punishment definitely confirmed that she wants to continue to be a good kid.

"K-, did you cry?" 

"I tried not to." 

I hugged her tight when she got home. 

Smiles in my day:
-  That K- talked to us about what happened.  She also fessed up that she had been sent to the detention table once last year for talking at lunch.  I stressed how important it is for her to tell us.  "But mom, I didn't want to get in trouble."  (Trouble at school = trouble at home.)  Still, she came to us this time and did talk to us.  I'm trying to keep an open line of communication.  Obviously, it isn't a perfect line, but we're working on it bit by bit.
-  The head lice issue of yesterday isn't an issue.  All has been attended to.  The teacher thanked me for asking K- not to discuss it.  The child that had told K- had apparently told many children and the teacher had to talk with her about it.

Have a great day!

:Scratch, scratch:

K- came home last night and told me, "You know, J- told me that A- has lice."

:scratch, scratch:

"K-, I need to check your hair."

"But mom, I wasn't even around A-."

I asked her if A- had said anything.  She said no, that it had only come from J-.  I told her that it is important that she not say anything to anyone and that if A- did have lice, it wasn't her fault and sometimes that just happens.

Then I checked her head.  It checked out a-okay.  I also have her use tea tree conditioner, which is supposed to act as a repellent.  We started using that last year during the VBS lice incident. 

Let's face it.  Head lice happens.  I had it several times as a kid and survived it just fine.  It's not to say that I want to deal with it.  Yuck.  I did e-mail Mrs. S- with a heads up.  (No pun intended.) 

In the meantime, K- went to school with her hair wound up into Gabriela knots.

Smiles in my day:
-  I'm stunned at how many kids got the word 'leprechaun' right on the spelling tests last week.  The wall was full of excellent spelling tests.  Hooray!
-  Getting some school work pulled around last night.  I'm busy pitching an idea for a membership drive to the Principal. 

Have a great day!

Tales from the Trenches: I knew it was coming.

Mark it on the calendar.  Today is the day I officially had to start K- on allergy medication.  I have to do that during the spring, often mid-late March and all the way through to mid June.  Apparently, she was good all day, but then started falling to pieces this evening when I got home.  She was just not acting herself and was just whining and falling apart all over the place.  We pressed on, had her finish her homework, take a bath and I had her go to bed a little early.  She's had the medicine in her for about an hour now and she is so much better.  Thank goodness for Claritin!  (In our case, store brand Claritin.) 

Spring is here!  The allergy medicines are out, the robins are so loud that it sounds as if they are screaming, thunderstorms were last night and more things seem to be greening up. 

About time!

Smiles in my day:
-  My grandfather isn't doing particularly well, but he is holding his own.  That's something!
-  The neighbor calling to let Hubs know that he had a brake light out.  Better to have someone tell you than to get a ticket.

Have a great day!

My green thumb is happy!

Today, Hubs and K- went to go check out migratory water fowl (yes, that is a Sunday afternoon activity when your dad is a park naturalist) and I decided to opt out.  I'm not much a ducker.  I'm more for the May migration of warblers and whatnot.  Anyhow, this afforded me some much needed alone time so that I could be one with my dirt and seeds. 

A few years ago, Hubs bought me this most wonderful little greenhouse with a seedling heat mat.  I guess that he wasn't all that thrilled that I was using our heating pad to try to get my little seedlings moving along. 

So, what's in here?  I have Sungolds, collard greens (for our iguana), hollyhocks, marigolds, Chinese lanterns, red peppers, ground cherries and basil.  In the little silver side pot (a growing kit Mom gave me for Christmas), I have lavender, oregano and thyme. 

I've successfully wintered over a few plants.  I half-heartedly plunked a chunk of pineapple sage into water and left it in the window all winter.  She was looking a little displeased, but then she greened up.  I've planted that and cross my fingers that she'll make it just fine.  Off to the left is the geranium that Julia gave me.  I wintered it over, brought it up about a month and a half ago and nearly gave it a horticultural heart attack.  I lost a little bit of it from not easing it into full sun, but she pulled around.  The little green square is the solar battery for K-'s reading light.  I found her sleeping with it on in her bed last night.  I knew that there was a reason we bought her a cool-burning LED solar light!  :S

I admit that I planted my lovely organic seeds in Miracle Grow seed starting soil.  Now, I realize that the Miracle Grow part negates the organic part, but I've used organic soil and got everything else growing in there (including mushrooms), but not what I originally planted.  We do organically garden by about 95% or so.  That's a lot better than my neighbors who provide the lawn services their payroll every month so that they can spread lovely poisons in their yard.  Yarg. 

I'm excited to get growing!  My sister and I are trading seeds.  I'm giving her my leftovers of last year's seeds (what I used this year) and in trade, she'll get me the starter potatoes that I need to get rolling.  Potatoes are my new addition this year.  I'll be growing them in a large plastic laundry bucket.  I need to read up on what potatoes require.  I know nothing about sun, food or whatnot.  I do have organic veggie food, so I figure that to toss that in won't be a bad thing, but we'll see what the instructions tell me.  Anyone with previous potato growing experience, feel free to give me some guidance. 

Smiles in my weekend:
-  Decent weather.
-  Hubs and I were able to tackle the puppet show project and came up with a pretty good show between the two of us.  He had a skeleton of a program that needed to be tweaked and re-worked in some spots. 
-  I've had a crocus in a vase in the middle of the table for the last few days.  Silly, I know, but you have to use what you've got.  K- brings them to me and though it is only the bloom, I can't bring myself to pitch it.
-  My seed soil was on rebate at Ace Hardware and I had a $5.00 coupon that I earned.  Between the two, for $13.00 worth of merchandise, my cost is 35 cents.
-  Blueberries on sale at the store for BOG2.  K- was very pleased.  They also had giant grapes on sale. 

Have a great day!

To note:  I'm really not that precious about my photos.  If they end up being picked up on internet searches (which they have), at least it gives someone a reference point of where to go for the original post.