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Showing posts with label retail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label retail. Show all posts

Thursday, November 3, 2011

On Unemployment.

As many of you already know, I am currently employment-challenged and have been for a month. One of many screwed by the  liquidation of Blockbuster Canada to pay debts owed by the US parent company.  Many folks ask "What are you  doing now?" and the usual answer is-not much. So, me being me, I want to share some insights and opinions with you-dear reader.

I have the time. Obviously.

Have to admit, the last month has kinda felt like a vacation. After the turmoil of helping close down the store I've worked at for 13 years takes a toll. The people you work with had become your family and it's really hard watching the store you helped open, maintain, care for and commit to get picked apart. My analogy was; it's like your Grandma had passed away and you are watching relatives pick apart her house. People asking about shelving felt like vultures picking the bones before we were dead. After, to continue my macabre thought process, seeing the emptied store was like viewing the dead body at a funeral. You wish you didn't see it because now that's the image stuck in your head and not the many happy memories.

Sue me if I needed some time to recover from that experience and also the longer & busier hours involved. In the last month I haven't really committed to anything or accomplished much. Did some workshops, babysat, tossed out a few resumes like a good E.I. seeker. Checked job banks. Nothing to write about really. Didn't even see an improvement in the state of my house.

Wow. I couldn't really tell you WHAT I've been doing. Yikes.

Now, the shock is gone, acceptance arrived and I am wondering what next? Retraining or career advice? I don't know where I am going... getting directions is moot. It feels like I am back to "What do I want to be when I grow up?"

Well-I don't know. Growing up is overrated.

In the meantime I have rearranged furniture. Alphabetised my CD collection. Made a list of things I need to do to winter-ise my house.  Considered amalgamating my entire media collection; putting musical soundtracks in with the movie and the DVD's & blu-rays that were based on the novel with corresponding book... I might still do that. Never know.

I am past the anger at the murder of Blockbuster. I am not having a pity party. I am not embarrassed or sad at staying so long in retail - met way to many awesome people and had waaaaaaaay to much fun. I know something will come and I will rock it. I plan on covering my survival needs first and then developing hobbies to keep me amused and engaged. I thank God for my support system.

Let's see what happens tomorrow. Could be good.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Realistic seasonal greetings

Tis the season for warm tidings and well wishing... But have you noticed that much of the sentiments are rather repetitive and generic? "May you have a joyous holiday season." or "May you have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year." Nice thought but hardly practical and rarely sincear.

I've come up with some more grounded, realistic seasonal tidings most of us can relate to. Since most seem to start with "May you" that is how I will format my little list.

May you / your:
May you have a block heater and proper length of outdoor extention cord.


May you have the snow in your driveway be the light powdery kind while the type in your yard is the denser snowball packin type.

May your car always start at 10pm after it's been sitting in a parking lot for 8 hours.
In addition; should the situation call for it, may you have jumper cables and a running vehicle attached to the other end.


May you not have the snow plow push SH!T into your driveway after you finish shoveling the darn thing.

May you have fuzzy gloves, dry boots and a thick winter coat.
And a toque, and snow pants, and ear muffs, and chap stick...

May you nOT have to enter a Walmart on the 24th.

May you rejoice as the line at Future Shop on boxing day is short.

May you have good winter tires.
If not then BCAA and let there be no cement barriers in the impending snow bank.

May you remember to always grab a cart. Seriously, just grab a damn cart (you know you will need it).

May you be safe in the knowledge that the Santa that has been watching you all year lives at the North Pole and not across the road.

May you not do irreconcilable damage to a retail employee because the stress of this joyous season is breaking your mind.
Alternatively, may you not need to because s/he is chatting to the person 3 people ahead of you about a boy/girlfriend, meanwhile scanning the purchases at a rate of 1 minute.

May you not forget the cranberry sauce.

May you fill up with the feeling that you had at age 4 when you light up the Christmas tree.
Also, may the needles stay ON your tree till Jan 2nd.

That concludes my list, maybe a few less people will talk like 50 cent Christmas cards this year.

Your welcome.