Fazzled in RL

My work day is over thank goodness. My energy level was somewhere below sea level by the time I took lunch at 3:35. I multi-task with customers (work with two or three at a time). That is frequently the only way I can help everyone who wants to work with me. I felt as though I had a few steps left in me, but I had walked my last mile. I told the two customers waiting for me that I just had to go eat. Surprisingly I didn't feel as though the ground were coming up to meet me, which meant my blood sugar wasn't hitting rock bottom. I had a multi-grain bagel with low fat cream cheese for breakfast and took half with me to keep me going until lunch. I had a chance to take a couple of bites around 1:00.

We were busy and everyone working was worn out. I called the owner's son up to my department to cut fabric for my break. He didn't show. I went in search of him and his mom said he wasn't there, so I asked her to take over for me. She can't run the register, but she can cut fabric. That's better than the owner, who can cut fabric but can't run the register or put the phone on hold and page someone. I'm not criticizing either of them; she runs the stock room, he has had several small strokes.

All I wanted to do was go home and crash. I felt frazzled and stretched. Every time my name was called, I could feel myself square my shoulders and turn around to assess who it was and how badly they needed me; not good. One of my customers told me she could tell I needed a break as in a serious vacation. I had mentioned that the owner suggested I work Sunday or Monday this Labor Day weekend and get caught up. As though that would be sufficient!

But eight or nine uninterrupted hours would be a god send. I could get my fall table with displays finished, rehang one end of a quilt that managed to unhook itself, hang the new patriotic quilt from Kathy, whose husband came in today to let me know how his job search was going, And take down an oriental display and put up the Christmas displays, and coordinate the jelly rolls (forty 2-1/2" x 44" strips of fabric that are rolled together) that has literally been waiting weeks for my color sense (I've managed to roll five). Today my assistant asked if I was ever going to get the kits she cut out for sale? And I was able to tell her two days ago the IT guy finally got the shared printer working with the four computers running Vista, XP & Windows 97 so now I will be able to print the instructions I wrote for the project as few weeks ago as soon as I can discover why the printer says it needs ink, when it has ink. I just wish I had a good way to hold the quilt flat for pictures, mine doesn't look professional. Besides the two shipments I got out, three more came in for me the last of the week. September has hardly begun; I will probably have a good 600-700 bolts come in this month. Can I escape to a tropical island somewhere?

This is the quilt. It's "Nana's Garden" with a few changes to fabric choices. The yellows and greens are softer in person. The tan is bunnies: leaping in the stripes and sitting with their backs to you in the border. Hopefully Tuesday I'll be able to print the instructions, which I tweaked to comply with the fabrics and added some clarification.

It's cute, and I have a buyer for it when I am finished with the display! Yay!

Lunch always revives me. I exercised this evening. It's lovely here, 80 degrees and 31% humidity.

Some People - RL

I'm very fond of the owner's wife where I work. Sometimes she talks about her frustrations. Today she said she "You know how long it's been since I got my new washer." (not really, but recently). She had later driven to the store and paid for it. "I got a bill today that they were charging me a $35 late fee." Her husband went to the store to find out about it and they told him it wasn't paid for, so he paid for the washer and the late fee. (I played ring-around-the-rosy to find out this much). "I don't understand him. Why didn't they know it was paid for? It should have been in their computer." (She doesn't trust computers)

I said "Did you write a check?" She didn't remember. "You surely didn't pay cash. Go look in your checkbook for proof you paid it. The bank can give you a copy of the cancelled check." Here it comes, the unbelieveable response "I don't care about proof." By now she is very agitated. My response "You will need proof you paid for it, so you can get your money back. Go look in your checkbook."

She came back in a few minutes waving her checkbook "I found it!"

Japanese Folded Bags

I spent the latter portion of the evening working on instructions for one of two Japanese folded bags for work. It would be so much easier for me to simply sketch each step of the bag, rather than laboriously create line drawings on the computer for them. However I did that once and the customers who wanted to make the project hesitated because of the sketches; they didn't consider the handout professional.

Like my handouts become professional simply because the line drawings are more semetrical and the lines are uniform. Hah!

I believe I will need to type it into a text file and find a way to transform the graphics to jpeg format to share them with you. Someone might be interested, so I'll give it a shot.

Work - RL

wow! It's been over a month since I posted! It's been quite a month, good and bad and VERY STRESSFUL. I wanted to share with you a little something from my RL job.

I had a customer yesterday. She came in saying that she had been told by name in California to get coral. (coral what? thread, hemming tape, trim, fabric) I guessed fabric.
me: What kind? cotton, wool, polyester, linen, silk, spandex - a knit, a satin? her: I don't care.
me: Is the color more important or the fabric (thinking which department is the most likely to have coral? that would be mine - name a color and I probably have it in a solid colored cotton - over 200 choices) her: the color
I did not discover that was the wrong answer until after I lead her on a sweep of the shop. She approached me in the quilt department, so we looked at cotton, linen, silk, polyester. I had discovered it was for a dress; they can all be used for dresses. She was one of the least informative customers I have encountered. It is amazing how many of them expect you to know what they want when they give you almost nothing to base that knowledge upon. Finally I dug out of her that it was for a wedding.
me: for you? her: no, I'm the bride. (looking at me like I wasn't paying attention)
me: for your bridesmaids? her: yes (other options: flower girls, mothers, sponsors, junior bridesmaids)

It would have helped if she walked up to me and simply said I am getting married and my maid of honor wants the bridesmaids to wear coral.

Then like many other people, she told me she wanted a particular fabric that she has seen. No content, no swatch, no name, no picture. I asked for a description. hmmm....If she had told me immediately that she wanted a coral fabric with another color running through it (gold), I could have lead her to the bridal/special occasion department and shown her the two bolts that fit that description. No, this was at least 15 minutes later. I called Wayne to the department, and turned her over to him. He really doesn't have as much patience as I give him credit for, however it was someone else's turn, mine had run out.

Work Today.........I Feel Lousy - - RL

I wrote this yesterday morning and meant to post it, but didn't:

Ooohhhh.....I ate something that didn't agree with me yesterday. It was a bad night and a worse morning. Going back to sleep would be impossible, but heavenly. I want to crawl into a hole with my ginger ale and curl up. Instead I'm getting dressed and going to work, ginger ale in hand. I have a fabric rep today. Thank goodness he isn't set up for all day, I don't think I could handle it. That basically means he is a minor rep = represents fabric manufacturers that are not major players in the market.

Otherwise it would be nine straight hours (with a business lunch) of purchasing decision time for yours truly while I view thousands of fabric samples for hundreds of groups from four to six manufacturers. With him I'll look at about one thousand samples for a few dozen groups and it won't take more than a couple of hours. It would be a piece of cake if I felt good.

I have received about 375 bolts of fabric in the last few days. The manufacturers packing slip had dups on it, determining which took about six man hours each for two people. Getting it checked in, the error handled, dated, coded, priced, space made for it, and put out on the floor is almost finished - the bulk of it probably will be by Monday. Some of it was scanned etc for the website.


Update:
It was a hell of a day (sorry). 'm not usually micro-managed; we (dept mgrs & owners) are really stressed. It started with pressure from my boss's mom (in charge of the stock room) regarding the rep (for one thing the person who handles scheduling didn't bring in anyone extra to cover for me), concluding with my boss's brother telling a co-worker and myself something that we do not want to hear and shouldn't at this point, which may or may not be factual. The hours between, working with customers and dealing with the new fabric, were mostly okay. Along with questions from other people, it was peppered with questions from boss's mom, who then ran my answers past her daughter, and come back and reported that she agreed with me. She didn't ask her everything, so I pulled out the folder with my calculations three more times to supply answers. I am very fond of this lady.

I was a wreck last night. Quick to tear up (I'm normally even-keeled for myself, soft-hearted for others). I needed a really good cuddle. Fortunately for me, when I checked email, Stani had the window open while he was working, hoping to catch me. We were able to spend almost two hours together in live chat. It helped.

A Little Retro - RL

This is a cute little owl fabric that I had to have for no good reason except it is unique and it appeals to me.

Normally I buy full groups that are new, replenish certain groups by buying the bolts that have sold out, or pick and chose from large groups. I buy single bolts that don't go with a themed group, only if they are novelty prints (cars, horses, ducks etc) that meet a need. Novelty fabrics are one of our specialties.

I just threw this one in willy nilly. My boss would have looked at me in alarm if she had been there and asked if I really needed/wanted that? She hasn't joined me for a buying session for ten months. I regret that; we work really well together. I have the next fabric rep scheduled for next Monday during a time she sometimes comes in...so if she wishes, she could be there. Debi is fun and I think they would be excellent friends if she lived locally.

Because it is not part of a group, when the bolt arrived at the shop I knew it would sit on the shelf virtually untouched unless I came up with a display. It is in the retro section so I found a pattern from that era. I am surprised the style appealed to me. It's very feminine. I am feminine, but I don't think I'm this feminine.


It is Butterick 4945 (bottom right) If the link doesn't work immediately, give it a few seconds. I believe it is from the 1950s. I modified it by placing a pipping between the two fabrics and shortening the bottom piece (twice) to 2-1/2" with hem to give it better balance between the two fabrics.

Me, being me, I didn't read the instructions. I almost never do. But then I usually draft my own patterns, so I am not used to having instructions to rely on. And this is super easy.

Extra long apron strings to tie your special male friend up with - hehe!

Cas isn't here - RL

The only time my Friday off at work changes (we are closed on Sundays), is when two other people need/want that day off.

The end of the twelve foot shelf used for displaying quilt kits and a few fat quarter bundles

I was asked a couple of days ago if I would switch my day off for next week. I agreed and then we haggled as to which day I will take.

Now I feel like I need to post a notice on the front door - big and bold and hope everyone who cares will actually read it. What is it about people that the ones that could benefit rarely read signs?

Cas will be off on Wednesday, October 14
She will be available on Friday, October 16

This public service announcement would upset my co-workers who feel "my customers" place too much importance upon my assistance. They seem to forget they all have customers that prefer them. I just have more, or else more projects are done by "Cas's groupies" - one of the men started calling them that and it stuck :(

For a little reference check out this post paragraphs 4-7

A corner of my 7'x10' cutting table used for displays and quilt kits. Yes there is clutter behind the display rack....well I'm a bit cluttered. Artistic types aren't usually all that tidy are they? ?

Because I know there will be people who come in on Wednesday and say, "Where is Cas? I know she's off on Fridays" and the next time I see them it will be "Where were you last week? I came in and you weren't here." The next sentence will be:
(a) I had to get something and so someone else helped me (they may describe them, but rarely know their name)
(b) I left again
(c) I was afraid you had quit

Yes, there really are people who will drive I don't know how many miles in metropolitan traffic expecting my help to pull their project together and if I am not there, will turn around and walk out the door!!

The ethnic table is behind the rack on the left, 400+ batiks on the wall, 2-1/2 tables of Civil War prints starting with the table on the right. A tiny portion of the floor space I have for 6,000 bolts of fabric (my department takes up one third of the floor space dedicated to fabric in a shop that used to be a grocery store!)

Another RL Funny (at least to me)

I have mentioned that I work in retail and have a regional reputation.

Today Wayne answered the phone and a lady said "Earlier today I was talking to someone at your shop about templates, and it wasn't Cas. Do any other women work there?"

He kept a straight face and handed the phone off to one of the seven other women that work there the lady had obviously never noticed. Then told me. I laughed and laughed until my stomach hurt. Some people just are not observant!

Balancing - RL & SL

Ali and Cen have both written brave heart-rending posts to their blogs lately. The links are the most recent ones. It was one of those times when I so wanted to say something that showed I care about them, their challenges, their courage, admire their spirit and insight into their own lives and their needs and wanted to encourage them and cheer them on. And I so didn't succeed in showing any of this.

I really should learn not to comment late at night, when I don't have two brain cells left to rub together. The first thing I thought of this morning was Cen's struggle. I'm sorry to say I haven't thought of anything to say that might help now either.

Thinking about both of them this morning made me realize that one of the things that SL gives me is a connection with people that really don't want much of anything from me but my friendship. This may sound pretty pathetic, but for me it's not. After nine or ten hours at work, I can quite happily be a friend, be there for you.

I am a very social person. I work retail. Retail is a social job, but much of it is the type of "social" that is demanding and draining.

I am a department manager and buyer for the largest department in one of the largest shops of its kind in the country. I spend my day surrounded by people that want me, bits of me - for my color sense (used to teach college art), for my knowledge (we do mini-classes all day long just leaning over the cutting table explaining the "how to" of what they are trying for), for my skills (someone who doesn't know how to do something and doesn't want to learn asking/pressuring me to do it for them) and for the answers to questions (where are your/do you have? many times they are standing within ten feet - or two feet - of what they want in direct line of sight and haven't bothered to glance around), for my ability to pull together what may be 30 different pieces that they need to get their project done (it can take 45min to 3hrs of intense work with one or more people) for my historical expertise (I'm sorry to say I'm not as knowledgeable as everyone wants to believe).

There are many people that walk in the door that don't really need in-depth help. There are many people it is a joy to see. I am very service oriented, and the place I work believes in customer service.

I have a regional reputation!! People whom I have never met walk in the door and ask for me by name! Some of the things people have said to me are rather disconcerting! I would rather not hear them. I've only lived here seven years, but due to my job there are probably a thousand people in the area and several more scattered around the country that would realize who I am from my profile if they happened to stumble across me and think about it.

I belong to a weaving guild that meets once a month on Thursdays. I belong to a re-enactment group that meets every week on Thursdays (different time of day) and has events in the larger geographic region every Saturday. My day off was changed from Thursday about the time I was introduced to SL. We are closed on Sundays. So although I need the social interaction and the ability to display the creative side of me (weaving, embroidery, costuming) that those two groups give me, I am working those days. I visit close friends on Fridays and I can get an occasional Saturday off to go play - yay!

SL can't really replace those particular activities. But it gives me a social outlet where I can just go and dance, join in some role play, do some shopping without the traffic (if it's too laggy, I can TP away and come back another time). I need the relaxing social intercourse that SL provides me.

Please don't misunderstand - I'm very glad to critique designs of all sorts, go shopping with someone for anything they want to look at, help set up venues for fund raisers. Don't hesitate to ask me. I will willingly and happily give it my all. It's different from work and I love doing what I can to help people.

SL for me is primarily the people. A few of my friends are on sporadically, sometimes several times a week - sometimes it's weeks between log ins (for a couple it's job related absences). I enjoy the people I talk to every day just as much, but I don't want to miss the opportunity to catch up with ones that are on occasionally. I frequently relax on a favorite piece of land (home or my rp household) and weave and embroider and hand sew while I glance at the monitor periodically to see if the people I care about have logged on or want to talk. Many friends realize I'm shy, and they are the ones to start the conversation.

I am certainly have my own problem with balance, but it's not any different with SL then it is with the other things I'm into. Housework is what I avoid. And food is life sustaining to me - I only occasionally really want to cook. But I do it and I'm fairly decent at it. I do housework when I must, but not because I'm buried in SL - I would rather exercise, sit on the breezeway, walk on the beach. I could just as easily be immersed in historical research or embroidering and put off vacuuming.

Below I have copied and pasted the comments I put up on Ali's and Cen's blogs - lame as they may be. I think everyone else did much better at expressing what I wish I could have put into words.

I read Ali's first. If I had read Cen's first, I undoubtedly would have commented differently on Ali's.

My comment on Ali's:
Wonderful post Ali. Thank you.

My husband thinks I'm addicted, but he also knows I don't have an addictive personality. I focus on something (usually some sort of art) - delve in thoroughly until I hit a point and realize it's enough!

With SL, I don't know if that time will come. The friends, the adventures SL brings us! Hurray!

My comment on Cen's:
I work full-time, exercise faithfully an hour a day, don't have kids, and my husband doesn't get home until after midnight. So I have hours each evening waiting up for "us" time. SL really hasn't changed my perspective on RL. I spend the same amount of time doing/or avoiding the doing of my RL chores in favor of doing the fun stuff.

Now most of my recreation time is spent in SL rather than in creative RL pursuits. Mostly because of a major setback I received in that arena. That was the latest "wall" I referred to in my comment to Ali's post, although hitting a wall can also be learning something well, so that it's time to move on.

I took a break from SL for a week just lately and thought about it. I'm ready to pick up my RL projects again.

I treasure SL for the very real friendships and the wonderous creative spirit evident in so many people here.

You are strong, you are a wonderful person that I feel privileged to know. We are all pulling for you!!

Successful Devastation

Real life - I am a department manager and buyer for one of the largest fabric shops in the United States. We had our once a year MEGA Sale lately. Imagine the second photo x 30 and that would be the devastation in my department.

First things: putting up the Christmas in July sale table, inventory of the batting (packaged and rolls) left on the sales floor and pulling any stock from the back. Deciding how many kits, whole group packs were purchased and filling in my boss on that, helping the office person assess what fabric I will reorder that is on the website so she can put "out of stock" on it vs. what I won't reorder that needs to be deleted.

Add bringing the entire back wall of already discounted fabric in that section back out from the stockroom (approximately 60-72 feet of shelf space), collecting fabric that belongs in other departments (only one shopping cart worth this year!), creating fat quarters from yardage that is too small now to stay on the bolts and you will get an inkling of what greeted me when I walked back in two days later.

It takes me a solid week when I don't have help and 3-4 days when I do. Thankfully my top assistant returned from Alexandria for the event, stayed an extra 2 1/2 days to help. They don't tell you it's in the fine print when you sign the contract that you have to continue working the sale even if you move away! (just kidding) Two employees that moved this year came back to help.

7/18/08 - Edit

The 42 bolts of remnants under my table have been dealt with. I can walk around my table! I had help with the back wall - yay! It all looks pretty normal again - just in time for someone to bring in their entire class on Thursday to pick from blender groups for a specific project!

Next week - batting orders, Kona cotton & Fusion orders. Oh, and an all day meeting with a fabric rep, who couldn't believe that we couldn't see him a couple of days after the sale!! I'm going to send him a couple of pictures so he might be able to understand a bit - lol.