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01 December 2004: Snow! Snow! Snow! Snow! Took some pictures of the backyard this morning. Beautiful! [while it lasted. . . ] Suited up and with The Boyz in tow, took snow shovel in hand and attacked the SLUSH in the drive. Yep, sure LOOKED purty, but it weighed a TON to move! And, where was the snow blower? In pieces and elevated on a shelf in the garage. 'Course, I coulda fired up the lawn mower and MOWED the slush, but, nah, that wouldn't've worked. . . the mower's set up for mulching, not for discharging. . . :-/ Never got to Squirrel Park with The Boyz; but, they had a good hour outdoors while I sloshed slush. They went off and "did their own thang together", periodically swinging around front to check up on me. Ol' Sammer seemed happy to trot around at his own pace. . The Nernster's pace is more about exuberance and speed! Amazing that two diametrically-different personalities have bonded so well! Then, I had all the attention I could want (and then some) while making an apple pie. My taste-testers (Sam and Ernie) thoroughly enjoyed apple slices and raw pie crust scraps during the assembly process!! 02 December 2004: Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Bananne's good friend and fellow YAGbabe, Paula, who died unexpectedly last night. She fought the good fight, and now is her time to rest. Valdemort did it! "Intense Auburn" high(?)lights in her hair - sez she LOVES it! Waiting for pix... Went through the paperwork today, am now a [seasonal] Marshall Fields employee, working in the Menswear Dept. What's hilarious is, in the dress-code guidelines they gave me, it is stated, "...wear what you sell...". Um, don't think there's any men's clothes that would fit me quite right??? Worse yet, would any guy really want to buy something that would make HIM look like ME? Current book material
03 December 2004: Lessee. . . Thongs mixed in with the briefs. . . ties unstrung and splayed on the tables. . . dress shirts spilling out of their cubbies. . . 44's in with the 32's (and vice-versa). . . underwear ripped outta their plastic wrap, then unceremoniously stuffed into the back of the shelf. . . and, last but not least. . . a women's shirt hanging on the men's underwear display! So went my first day, since my employee number didn't make it into the system so I could actually ring anyone up!! ;-) So, I peered over shoulders to see "how" to ring purchases and folded and bagged purchases and made sure everyone got gift boxes who needed them, then just generally made sure stuff got straightened up during slow times. So far, everyone I've worked with today has been really nice. . . Robin (to whom I was assigned), Kristin (a fellow-first-dayer - but her # worked O_O ), Alycia (who keyed in her number and supervised so I could try ringing in a couple transactions), John (cool & confident, and helped out in a real pinch!), etc. There was also Colleen, who turns out to be the mother of Beth ("Dolly" from the spring production "Hello, Dolly!"), so we had something to chat about, since we knew a lot of the same people through school!! Day topped off by saying "Hi" to an invisible Nook in the passenger seat of the Ranger in passing as I was returning home in the Road Warrior (so, I literally have not SEEN her since 7 this morning, only HEARD her); and the absolutely EXUBERANT greeting from The Boyz as I walked in the door! Who could NOT like dogz?? 05 December 2004: Covering 2 days in one tonight. . . Yesterday, Jim & The Boyz drove to EL to visit Valdemort. Spent a very enjoyable hour walking the old part of the campus, watching The Boyz romp, and yakking; then lunch at "Buffalo Wild Wings". When it came time to leave, neither The Boyz nor Valdemort were happy about the separation!! Nook & I ran a couple errands, then she built her version of "BLN Chicken" for a light supper; she was to go to The Energizer Bunny's house with some of her MPMM buds for an overnight, and Jim & I had an invitation to the annual holiday party at the Serra's. Valdemort - on the EL side of things - went to a SMB Trombone party to watch MSU get embarrassed by the Rainbow Warriors in Hawaii. Great enjoyment was had by all (in spite of MSU's loss)! Today was quiet & relatively lazy. Retrieved Nook from the sleepover, ran an errand at Meijer, otherwise, general minor cleanup (the "lick & a promise" that more cleaning will happen on Tuesday, my current day off). Took The Boyz to Squirrel Park this morning. Ernie was pulling like a souped-up tractor at a tractor pull all the way over!! Let The Boyz off their leashes as we entered the school yard, and I could swear the Ernie broke the sound barrier several times going after squirrels during the romp in the park!! As always, Sam trotted along at his own pace, checking out "stuff", and generally content to just be out for a walk. 06 December 2004: NICE day, today!! Yeah, yeah, of course we woke up to sleety-snow. Yep, I heard the "hisssss" of the sleet as I let The Boyz out for their morning ablutions. Sure, it was cold & wet & drizzly & gray & overcast most of the day. But, it was a GOOD day, nonetheless!
07 December 2004: Carbon dating of what was found under my frig today shows that it's been WAAAAY too long since I last moved the frig out of its cubby... "Holiday Walk" at the Flint Cultural Center this evening. Three out of the four flute choirs combined to perform some light Christmas-y music for our time on stage. Great turnout!! Almost couldn't find parking places (I got lucky and found one in the lot...) We are officially "cutting the cord"! Our landline will be disconnected early on Thursday, December 9. To reach us, use our cell numbers!! (Note: we are Verizon, so "are you IN?" ;-) 08 December 2004: Short day at M-F - 12:30-4:00. However, busier than the last couple! I've earned a total of 8 stripes from gift card sales (altho, I still have to track down the Stripe Goddess for the last 6). Home for 15 minutes, then off to Flute Choir (regular rehearsal). Next week, we'll play in the FIM atrium (Holiday music, of course), then back to Mary's office for a little party (at least, that's the plan - who's bringing the wine??)! Nook home from school today. Too many days of feeling "icky" by the end of the day, too many late nights studying, not nearly enough sleep all added up to a Mom Edict of "you ARE staying home today and sleeping so you don't get sicker!". And, she slept!! And slept!! And, hopefully, it helped. Late blog, so, time to hit the hay. 'Night all!! 09 December 2004: Another enjoyable day at work! Learning something "new" each day. And having fun! Nook MUCH better today!! The "Mom Edict" was the correct prescription (ahem!!! "Doctor" Mom) It's DONE. Our "land line" has been disconnected. If you need to call us, email me for our numbers. Just found in between the cushions: one chewed-up baby carrot, still fresh. It's the one given to Ernie while fixing supper, which he then took into his "food lab" and then abandoned. Then he apparently found it again, decided to work on it, and must've been holding it in his mouth when he crawled into Dad's lap... 10 December 2004: An extremely highly regarded member of the music community - and one of the very few honorary members of the Spartan Marching Band - Frederick Fennell, died at the age of 90 early December 7th. We learned about this by way of an email from The Maestro's daughter to SMB director, John Madden (she gave permission to each recipient to forward): I want you, and the greater music community to know that my father died peacefully in his sleep early this morning, Tuesday, December 7, 2004. Elizabeth [his wife] and I were by his side. I had promised him that I would do all I could to get him back to Siesta Key so he could watch the sun set over the ocean. With the help of Hospice, he arrived home in time to see the brilliant orange and pinks in the western skies last evening. A bit before Midnight, dad told me he was "frustrated and disappointed." When I asked him, "Why?" he replied, "There's no drummer here yet. I can't die without a drummer!" I told him that I loved him, and that "Heaven's best drummer was on the way." Moments later he said, "I hear him! I hear him! I'm OK now." This was my final conversation with my dad. An additional communique, also via the Spartan Marching Band, follows: All members of the band community will want to be aware of the fact that Fred Fennell will be honored during the "In Memoriam" segment of ABC-TV`s "This Week with George Stephanopolous." The program will air 10:30-11:30 EST this Sunday (December 12). All members of the SMB felt honored to have been directed by The Maestro at one of the home football games this Fall, and all were saddened to hear of his death. Valdemort has also been keeping the Online Trombone Journal apprised of the updates as she's received them. 11 December 2004: Correction: I received a note from Mom that George Stephanopoulus is on between 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, not at the time noted in the email below. Quiet day, here. Assembled the Christmas tree, Nook got it lighted & decorated. Then, naps all around!! New running shoes for Nook (Indoor Track) - and Bauman's even had an ORANGE "Runner Girl" ornament [which now hangs on our tree...]. Valdemort is playing a hockey game tonight, spent the day studying for her Computer final on Monday morning. Nook has a babysitting job just up the street at 7:15, will be heading out shortly for that. Just made "rocky road" brownies with marshmallows & "Christmas Bits & Morsels" - talk about sweet!! 12 December 2004: Late(r) shift at M-F today. First day in the "Techno Gifts" area (seasonal only, folks! The Sharper Image stuff will be in Marketplace after the holidays...however the REAL toys (iPods, Walkman, Cameras, etc.) will fade away...). Twenty minutes before I was to leave, the POWER WENT OUT!! Emergency lights in the store, cash registers on UPS [Uninterruptible Power Supply], computer system DOWN, last-minute shoppers couldn't ring up their purchases; at least we could close out the registers (thanx to UPS)...but we could NOT "clock out"!! Extra care in the parking lot...no lights there. Sleet! Traffic light OK at Miller/Linden...but farther down Linden, houses dark, flashers & traffic lights also dark...whew! Just north of Hill, lights ON for houses & traffic lights! Varying intensities of sleet the rest of the way home. 13 December 2004: Snow!! Valdemort had Final Exam #1 (C++, i.e., computer programming language) this morning, feedback is that it went "ok". Rushed out this AM, pulled together the required ingredients for a slow-cooker pot roast (never tried parsnips in pot roast before...they're good!! Adds a really pleasant flavor...) and got it browned, peeled, cut, and assembled in the cooker, then rushed thru lunch and off to work. Work was not terribly busy...the Techno Toys are attracting attention, but since M-F could not anticipate just HOW HOT the iPod and iPod Mini were gonna be, and therefore didn't order enough...well, let's just say that everyone comes to look at 'em and leaves disappointed (if it's TRUE disappointment, I point them to the Apple website >:-D ). Hey! I'd rather save customer relations for the store, than totally disappoint them!! Anyway, I LIKE hanging around the Techno Toys - checking out the different cameras, looking at the Sony version of the iPod (the Walkman Network) - the iPod is definitely cooler. Found the LAST "Hummer" flashlight for someone (one of those goofy "shake it up" types of flashlights); have YET to sell anything out of that department, but I sure can talk intelligently about the stuff I have there!! The handheld Audiovox TV's are pretty cool - but you have to be certain you're gonna get a decent signal for the telescoping antenna... Sharp's Aquos TVs are also garnering their share of attention, but the only sale was done as an "oh, by the way, add this to my order" for one of the commissioned shoe salesmen!! [that was an $1100 "by the way", by the way]. 14 December 2004: Day off from work!
And, throughout the day, "doorman to The Dogz". They LOVE playing in the snow!! 15 December 2004: 'Nother day off from work... Up to E-ville to see Mom & Dad. Always good to see you two! And, ALWAYS happy to help you guys out...I'm the one who owes you two for giving me a good start in life!! Got home in good time, couple of phone calls...the one with Valdemort lasted a good 30 minutes or so [I think someone's ready to come home tomorrow :-D ] Sam was totally out when I got home...I opened the door, walked past him, let Ernie out of his "den" - noisy exuberance!!....and Sam STILL didn't wake up 'til I walked over, stroked his head and talked to him!! Talk about a deep sleeper!! Sorted out supper - kept it simple and oven-friendly, since everyone was not going to be home all at the same time (Jim walked in the door to roust me from my "nap" in time to go to flute choir, Nook had Track, so didn't even see her till 7 PM - 12 hours since I last saw her this morning!!) Flute Choir was fun...we spent our first half hour in the Student Lounge playing Christmas music (trios & duets), then put our instruments away and got out cookies & cider and sat in the beautiful new student lounge and yakked!! Ahhhh! We need to do this again sometime!! ;-D 16 December 2004: Lo-o-o-o-ong day at work. Think I'm an expert at arranging ties now. Seems to be all I do between sales... Guess M-F got their "3 more" iPods in a day or two ago (ONE of the two days I was off); there was only ONE left in the case today...and I almost sold it, but the woman wasn't entirely certain if her husband would REEEEEALLLLY go for it, and needed to think about it; in the meantime, she bought a different electronic "gadget". Yep, now that all the Hummer Flashlights (the shake-em-up type) are G-O-N-E, that's when everyone starts asking for them...now that we have ONE iPod in the case, NO-ONE asks for them...and we have 4 great digital camera models on display, and have sold NONE (that I'm aware of). However, I have sold all sorts of sweaters, jackets, ties, sox, shirts (dress & casual), and underwear. Just as well that I'm reassigned back to Men's Sportswear for next week (definitely busier). Yeah, I get the Christmas Eve shift that ends at 7 PM. Oh well. 17 December 2004: Busy day at work...good ol' Xmas Rush is ramping up!! Although somehow, two of us were scheduled for Tech Toys, and NO ONE for Men's Furnishings next door...so I handed the Toys Key to my colleague, and covered Men's Furnishings for the balance of the day. And was VERY BUSY!! Valdemort dropped Nook at school this a.m., found Hutch (band director) - who very kindly invited her to this evening's Band Holiday Party at the Band Room!! At the party, she had a great time visiting with all her old high school band buddies ('course, she IMs with a lot of them anyway)! She also ran various errands, picked up groceries for tonight's supper, and met me at the doctor's office so her bothersome knee could be looked at (whew!! no surgery required - looks like it'll be PT). Nook's last day of school was today. All week long, she and her various buddies have been exchanging Christmas gifts (she did a LOT of baking for some of the gifts). Sounds like she's brewing up a "Movie Marathon" sleepover party for early next week... The Boyz are so thrilled that Valdemort's home! Ernie snuggled with her for the longest time this AM, and Sam is just content that the "Pack Count" is right again. 18 December 2004: Valdemort & Jim went BACK to E Lansing for the Men's Basketball game. V had to play with the Spartan Brass... Late night tonight at Marshall Fields. That is all. 19 December 2004: Home last night about 11:30 PM, got up 5:30-ish this AM to make it in to work by 7:30 AM <*yawn*>. FULL day today, too!! Busy straightening up the "exploded" shelves ALL DAY [what, are our customers brought up in barns?? yeesh] - the PA announcement before the store officially opened told it all, though...yesterday was a record day for sales! [Although, I still wonder what the night staff do with their time, if they aren't restocking supplies nor emptying wastebaskets nor clearing out empty hangers nor straightening up the messy shelves....]. Back to the grind at 7:30 AM tomorrow. Came home to a happy greeting from 5 [yeah! count 'em 5!!] family members!! Then, two of 'em (NOT the canines) took off in the Road Warrior to pick up makings for home-made pizza (a la Nook) The Road Warrior wants a new battery for Christmas... 20 December 2004: Good gravy!! The 20th already?!?!?!?!? It's almost 2005!! O_O Jim took the Road Warrior to the Honda Gurus this morning, they ran all the tests and the battery checked out OK and the auto's charging system was also fine. So, why the slow cranks and the almost-not-start yesterday at the Mall parking lot??? Eh? Jim came home this afternoon with a new battery anyway!! The Road Warrior gets an early Christmas gift. Jim & Valdemort are at a "JumpStreet Swing Band" rehearsal this evening. [V is subbing for one of the regular t-bones] - they have a New Year's gig to prepare for!! Nook's been prepping for a Movie Marathon sleep-over for tomorrow night. Moved TV and DVD player into her room (for the movies, of course).
Trying to figure out what cookies we still need to make... 22 December 2004: Didn't post yesterday, as just a bit too beat to do so! Yesterday: long day at work, had a good time, enjoy the "face-to-face" with the customers, BUSY. Today: short day at work, but due to being short-handed [one person went home sick after having been there only a short time], wound up working almost 45 minutes longer than scheduled (yep, got THAT busy!)!! That's OK, and not unexpected. Although, Valdemort admitted to some worry at my not returning home "on time"!! [*sigh* What goes around, comes around!] Nook had her "Holiday Movie Marathon" last night - good time was had by all. We'd moved the TV & DVD player into her room (which was spic-&-span - and nicely appointed with strings of Christmas lights), and the kids had a selection of movies to watch: "Napoleon Dynamite", "Donnie Darko", etc. Plus, a veritable feast of Edibles a la Nook (garlic pita chips, homemade peppermint bark,etc.). Ordered in Benito's pizza & breadsticks. Movies + food + a great group of teenagers = a great party (which wasn't loud - except for some of the laughter :-D - and definitely NOT obnoxious - these are the most well-behaved kids I could hope for!!). Valdemort got together with several friends and drove to Auburn Hills (Great Lakes Crossing) to see the movie, "Phantom of the Opera". Those who saw the professional stage production weren't too happy with the film version - and those who'd listened to the soundtrack from toddler-hood had to get used to the rearranged version, but we hear that overall, the movie version is great! 23 December 2004: "Day Off" from work today...rest up for the late Christmas Eve rush shift!! Replacement phone for Valdemort - her ol' Motorola (only 8 months old & under warranty) has been nothing but trouble for her (failure to ring, failure to receive voice mails, needed to reset every now & then). We'll see if that takes care of the problem. Nook's phone - which has worked OK - just got a software upgrade. Big Snow. Got out the snowblower and cleared the driveway (the snow was deeper than the blower's scoop in places!!) and sidewalks. Shoveled the back patio while Ernie frolicked in the snow (yes, we have "leap marks" in the backyard that are about 6 feet apart...and this is a mid-size dog!!). The Guyz enjoy the snow, and kept asking to go outside all day long - Ernie very assertively trying to get Sam to play more actively! Princess Bubbles stopped by to visit Nook late afternoon - lots of giggling was going on.... 24 December 2004: Merry Christmas Eve [and last-minute shopping]!! Got a couple batches of scones made this morning, Nook made gingerbread cookies this afternoon. Have a couple more types to try to crank out between tonight and tomorrow AM (if possible). Yep - had the closing shift at MF today (1:30 - 7:15). Surprisingly slow, for the last hours of Christmas shopping. Everyone was generally happy, and most were winding up with the bits-n-pieces that always seem to wait till the last minute. Y'know, I actually get a kick out of helping people coordinate their shirts-n-ties, believe it or not!! Having had to constantly "fix" the tie displays, I've gotten to know the selection pretty well...so I have a pretty good idea anymore what I'm looking for!! ;-D Speaking of ties...I have a sort-of proof about ties: Eels are slippery Well, at least that "proof" amused one of my co-workers... Addendum: To the GG - no, you can't run around in your underwear around here, either. Again, with the blessings of KayakWoman & Mouse, plus the entire GB Fin P-Nut Gallery, the outside can be pretty darn cold....!! Addendum #2: I am surrounded by my Boyz. J on his bacuter, Sam capsized and unconscious, Ernie in a circle and unconscious... 26 December 2004: Belated Christmas Greetings to all!! Christmas Day: Everyone got up and exchanged gifts - I think everyone got their special "something" - including The Boyz - and we all had breakfast and spent some time figgering out the new "toys". Sam is an old hand at opening gifts, and helped everyone he could reach rip the wraps off each gift as it was handed out!!. Ernie is still new at gifts, so we're still working on him! Then, over the road and through the cold, to Gramma & Granpa's house we went!! Dogz, goodies, and dinner in tow... Stuffed ourselves silly, as usual. Today: Up at 5:30AM, off to start my shift at 7AM. Slow start, actually. Things didn't really start to pick up until close to the end of my shift at 2:15!! But, we managed to get things pretty well straightened up from the Christmas Eve rush... 27 December 2004: Errands by everyone (except The Dogz). Nook & Princess Bubbles got Valdemort to chauffeur them to Jo-Ann's (yarn & knitting needles) and Target (athletic-type clothes) - also Bauman's (Valdemort walking shoes of the GOOD sort). Nook & PB don't know anything about knitting, but have decided it's time to learn. So, Momster tries to remember HER Mom's way of casting-on stitches, and [right-or-wrong] gets Nook started on her way. Which worked great....until she screwed up, tried to backtrack, and succeeded in unravelling everything she'd done to that point...! Trip to W. Bloomfield this evening. Went thru the coolest gift shop we know of, added to our "cool handmade jewelry" collection from this place! Turns out the owner, Stephanie, makes a lot of the jewelry worn by the Channel 2 (UPN) newswomen. And everytime they wear a piece, the station is inundated by viewers asking where to find this jewelry!! I know someone who makes wonderful beadbags whose wares would be a huge hit at this shop [Hint, hint, Bananne!] 28 December 2004: Lotsa business today!! Pretty balanced between returns, exchanges, and purchases. Heard that yesterday was a zoo, though - the counters in the Men's area were pretty well stacked with returns (mostly because noone wants to walk over to the Women's area or go upstairs to do a simple return). Jim & Nook did some grocery shopping - chicken quesadillas for supper (yum!) Guess The Nern continued successfully in his role as the Super Brindle Sleeping Pill - taking turns KO'ing Jim & Nook... 29 December 2004: Too busy with NEW project (see below) to do tonight's blog, so, Jim has kindly provided a "Guest BLOG" for us!!:
30 December 2004: Sigh. The "Eve of New Year's Eve". Already. As of this writing, have already knitted up one full skein of that "hairy yarn" Jim refers to below, and am well into the second!! Really knits up pretty - varigated jewel tones set off by the black "hairy stuff" that makes the scarf have an almost fluffy look. VERY busy day at MF today. For some reason, my counter must've been nearly the busiest in the store - the piles of returns/exchanges almost became *shambling mounds*, but I kept trying to fend them off as best as possible during the [very few & short] lulls that I almost didn't get to experience. Lotsa money went thru my hands; unfortunately, I think most of it went OUT, rather than IN... You have heard this here first!! - Valdemort has announced that if UofM wins the Rose Bowl, she will wear a UofM shirt the next day!!! There WILL be pictures of this posted, if UofM wins.... *evil grin* 31 December 2004: Happy New Year's Eve, everyone!! A few things got accomplished, on this, the last day of 2004:
And, some time to reflect and remember:
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