I SURVIVED!!

As you all know, I work retail. And the day after Thanksgiving is "Black Friday" (the busiest shopping day of the year), and I survived.

My shift was from 8-5 (which was perfect), and we were busy THE ENTIRE DAY!!! In fact, when I got there the line was all the way to the back of the store, and it stayed that way for most of the day. It did slow down from 1-2 (presumably because people were eating lunch), but then it picked right back up again and we had a line again.

One good thing about Black Friday is that (for the most part) people don't really fight with you about prices and such. They know what's on sale, and what's not. They also know that they have to wait in line longer if they make a big fuss about things. The other great part of Black Friday is that the day just flies by. Things seem to go really, really fast. Of course, we're so busy that you don't really have time to stop and think about anything, there's just too much to do.

One thing that I really didn't understand today was that we had some "Big Wigs" come into the store today. That wasn't so surprising, but what did shock me was that they came in at 10am and told us that the store was messy, and we needed to be better "recovered". Well, OF COURSE THE STORE IS A LITTLE MESSY!!!! IT'S 10AM ON THE BUSIEST SHOPPING DAY OF THE YEAR!!! DUH!!! I have to say, that considering how many people were in the store, and our sales, the store looked pretty good. I've seen the store a lot more torn up and a lot less busy. Oh well, we can always do better!! I was just shocked that they said that.

I have to work tomorrow at 6am, which isn't so bad (once you get used to getting up that early) and I have a huge list of things that I have to do. That's the great thing about working retail: there's ALWAYS a million things to do (but that's one of the worst things about retail too. You're NEVER finished!)

I've been a little nervous about things this year, with everything I've heard about the economy. But, I have a theory. We should all stop watching the news. All they ever tell you is bad news. Maybe if everyone stopped listening and thinking about all these scary things, things wouldn't seem so bad. I know this probably sounds weird coming from me (I am naturally a negative person) but, I'm really working on being more positive. I have noticed that things tend to go better when I'm really trying to be positive. This is one of the things I've learned from my boss Lisa. She is always positive. We could have 200 boxes in the back room and the store could be all torn apart, but she always says: "We'll get things done. We always do." Then she'll smile and go back to work. I'm trying to be more like her, and it makes a difference.

A Thankful Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving and I'm happy. Tired but happy. I worked yesterday to get ready for "Black Friday" and didn't get home until after 1 this morning. Remember my request this holiday season: Please be nice to retail workers, please don't make a huge mess of the stores that shop in (especially mine), and please, please, please don't let your kids run wild when you go shopping.

Anyway, our turkey has been in the oven for about half an hour and I find myself with some extra time on my hands (I guess I could/should be cleaning my house, but I want to relax for a few minutes), so I thought I do a Top 10 List!!!

Top 10 Things Jill Is Thankful For This Year:

10. I'm Thankful for my health. For those of you who know me this has been a tough year when it comes to my health. I've experienced kidney stones (many), infections, and several surgeries.

9. I'm Thankful for technology. This ties into being thankful for my health. Due to all my many kidney stones I experience a great deal of nerve pain from all of my procedures. Well, I have a pain control implant now. It's in my hip and connects directly for the nerves in my spinal cord. I have to force myself to not think about it too much, it kind of freaks me out. Long story short: when I'm in pain, I can turn on my implant and it helps so much with controling my pain.

8. I'm thankful for the country that I live in. I'm thankful for all the opportunities that are available to me and my family because we live in the United States. I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to vote. My Grandma Kate made me promise that I would always vote. She told me that as a woman, I personally have a responsibility to let my voice be heard.

7. I'm thankful for my family. My parents, brothers, sister, in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins and the rest of my family. Trish, my boss is from Ireland and Cleber, my friend is from Brazil, their families all live "back home". My family can be a royal pain in the butt and there is always some kind of family drama going on and we're all insane. But they are here, and I can see them whenever I want to, or need to. I also know that they love me, and I love them.

6. I'm thankful for my home. It's not perfect, and it needs some love to make it what I really want, but I'm grateful that we have it. I'm grateful that I have some place to go to after work. I'm grateful that my family has a place to be together.

5. I'm thankful for my job. I know this won't make sense to many of you, but in a lot of ways my job saved me. Having to get up in the morning, and be accountable for something is a good thing for me. I love my job. I love that I can measure my progress, I'm thankful that I have a job that lets me creative (somehwhat).

4. I'm thankful for my friends. I've always said that I don't have many friends, but the few that I do have are very special. They all listen when I need to vent, and don't put up with much of my crap. I learn so much from them. This week, a friend told me something bad about their health. This made me sad. I love my friends so much I hurt when they hurt, but I'm happy when they're happy. I hope that I can help, love and support my friend through this trial.

3. I'm thankful for my AMAZING children. When I'm with them, I just think that I must have done something right sometime to blessed with such amazing spirits. They can be obnoxious, they fight, and their rooms are always a mess, but they are amazing. I love them all so much, I feel like I didn't really have a heart until my children were born, they teach me how to love. Chris is so smart, funny and isn't afraid to try new things. Kate is quiet strength (like her dad), she has a very strong sense of right and wrong and is turning into a beatiful young lady. Kolbie keeps me young (but makes me feel very old sometimes). She loves and accepts people unconditionally. She always has smile and hug for anyone. I love my children so much.

2. I'm thankful for Greg. I love Greg. Our 16th anniversary is next month, and I never thought it was possible that I could love him more than I did the day we got married, but I do. I know it sounds cheesy, but I feel better (more relaxed and happier) when we're together. Hearing his voice and being around him makes me feel like things are going to be okay, even when sometimes, they aren't. Greg has never given up on me and expects me to do my best. He always tells me: Do your best, that's always enough. He takes his responsiblity as a husband and father seriously. He always does his best to provide for us all (that's a huge responsibilty) and I don't mean just financially. He always tries to do better when he's wrong. I think that Greg is about the most wonderful person on the planet, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to share his life with him.

1. I'm thankful for God and the Gospel. I've written in the past that I'm having a hard time with The Church right now, but I've never ignored that fact that my Heavenly Father loves me and has blessed more than I deserve. I know that faith ebbs and flows, and right now I'm struggling, but I know that Heavenly Father loves and and is supporting me through this. I'm grateful for all the wonderful examples of great faith that are all around me.

There are so many other things that I'm thankful for, but I thought I'd just do my Top 10. Katie just told me that I have to put Harley as something I'm thankful for. So: I'm thankful for my dog. He may not be in the top 10, but he's definatley in the top 20.

I hope and pray that everyone can have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving and Christmas season. I hope that this season is everything that you've ever hoped for. Hug your kids, kiss your husband (or wife), and tell your friends and family how much you love them. Have a great day! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!!

Wonderful Weekend

I have been working, and working, and working. My schedule varies week to week, which I like (there are definate advantages) but I haven't had a true weekend in a long time.

Weekends at work can be very difficult. Saturday's are crazy busy, and Sunday's the store is full of what Cleber calls: "Godless people" (someone is ALWAYS difficult on Sundays). I really enjoy my work, but like I said, weekends are difficult.

Trish (bless her soul) gave me this weekend off. And it's been lovely. I got to sleep in yesterday till 9am (I'm usually up by 4:30am). Then I just hung around the house until Katie and I went to see Twilight yesterday afternoon. I really enjoyed the movie. It stayed much truer to the book than I expected, and I liked the casting. Nobody really looked like I pictured them in my head, but I thought they did a good job.

Then Katie and I rushed home and I watched THE BEST FOOTBALL GAME EVER!!!!!! I loved that game!!! It was perfect!!! Greg and Chris and I had a great time watching the game together.

This weekend has been so nice, I've even been able to see and talk to Greg. It feels like we never see each other now that I'm working again. I think Trish knew that I'd need a weekend to relax before Christmas. It was wonderful!!!! It's been a wonderful weekend.

My Best

With the Holiday Season upon us, I had to blog about my job.

I work retail. I'm the Logistics Supervisor (I'm a glorified dock worker, but I like it) for a major retail outlet. Every week I have to work Customer Service shifts as well.

SIDEBAR: Please be nice to all those who work retail this year! AND DON'T MAKE A HUGE MESS!!!!! Remember that somebody has to clean up after you. Also, DON'T LET YOUR KIDS RUN WILD WHILE YOU SHOP!!! I AM NOT A BABYSITTER!!!

Anyway, as I may have mentioned before, I have a boss that expects NOTHING but every ones best. That's not really a problem for me, I expect that of people on my shipment team. The only problem is that to my boss, every ones best is 150%, all the time. Everything has to be done, and done right, the way she sees things, and the way she wants things. That's not such a big deal, but it can be very stressful. Working retail and preparing for Black Friday is a daunting task. I have about a million things to do. Fluff Christmas trees, finish visual displays, decorate end caps, put up marketing, the list goes on and on and on!!!!!!!! I could work a 80 hour this week and not get everything done.

Yesterday was amazingly stressful. The store was a mess, and we had to get things put back together. I came home from work and yelled at my husband and kids (and they didn't deserve it) and cried. But I've decided something: I need to relax. (I know that comes as a shock to everyone who knows me.) I just need to work my hardest, and if things don't get done, oh well. My boss won't see it that way. But if I can look her in the eye and tell her I did my absolute best what else can I do?

Sidebar: My current boss, is the best boss I've ever had. Maybe having her expect so much isn't a bad thing, it's just incredibly stressful.

GO VOTE!!!!

This past Friday Chris and I both had the day off, so I made him go with me to run some errands (I couldn't let him sit on his butt and watch TV all day). Well, I decided to vote early. We stood in line and waited for over an hour, but I'm so glad that I took him with me, despite the fact that he can be REALLY ANNOYING when he stands in long lines. Must be the age. I just turned on my IPOD and tried to ignore him and not be embarrassed.

We talk politics all the time at our house. We talk about issues that are important to us, from presidential politics to trying to get a stop sign put on our corner. One thing is certain: Greg and I disagree more than we agree. But I think it's important that our kids hear us discuss things, especially when we don't agree. It shows them that you can disagree and still love and respect each other. I have to admit though, the words "idiot" and "fool" have been said from time to time.

Anyway, I took Chris with me to vote (he's 13). I would STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to take your children with you to vote when they reach an appropriate age. I really didn't want to take Chris with me to vote, but I'm so glad that I did. Because he started asking me questions. Important, thoughtful, intelligent questions. Questions that he would NEVER have asked if he hadn't seen the process in action. I guess it made it seem more real to him.

Since we've talked about voting, it's plain to see that he does tend to be more "Conservative" than I am. But, he felt like it was okay to tell me how he felt and what he thought. I will NEVER tell my children who or what to vote for, I will however strongly encourage that they vote.

I am really looking forward to the election. I have significant worries about our country; economy, education, health care, retirement, the housing market, crime, the war. I will say that I don't agree 100% with either candidate, but my views are closer to one than the other.

I can get so upset with people when it comes to politics (even though I try not to). Today I read a blog written by a friend of Greg's. She said that she has been told by some people that she basically needs to rethink her vote. I don't even know this woman, but this MADE ME MAD!!!! I've been told this before myself, I'm too "liberal" (for the record, I don't think I would have been told this if I were a man). One thing I know for sure is that MY VOTE IS MY BUSINESS, I can tell you what I think, but DON'T EVER TELL ME that I need to rethink things. You can however tell me that you don't agree and why.

Well, that's my soap box for today. GO VOTE!!!!