In case you haven't heard, a worker at Wal-Mart in Long Island, NY was killed yesterday -- trampled by the mobs on Black Friday. Now, being in retail, I have been through my fair share of early morning Black Fridays.... For the most part, the customers are great. They love the thrill of the hunt for bargins and have great attitudes. But this is ridiculous! As one of the dead employee's friends said, "Someone was killed for a $5 bargain". So unbelieveably sad. If you haven't read about it, here's a link:
http://www.nydaily.news.com/ny_local/2008/11/28/2008-11-28_worker_dies_at_long_island_walmart_after.html
I read on someone's blog this morning, "I'm sure WalMart is somehow to blame".... Seriously? Okay. They probably could have done a better job at crowd control. But, if you've ever worked retail on the day after Thanksgiving, you know how those crowds can get! Now I love to bash the evil empire as much as the next person, but I know that WalMart probably reviewed crowd control measures with store management before this week in anticipation of the excessive crowds. Most companies do this every year at this time, and I'm sure WalMart is no exception. The blame is with the people who trampled that poor man, not WalMart.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Speaking of my BFF.....
And while I'm on the topic of my BFF..... It dawned on me today that we have been friends now for over 13 years! Wow! Maybe it's because it's Thanksgiving and I'm feeling overly sentimental, but I really miss her when I don't see her! I am so thankful to have her in my life. She's practically the best BFF anyone could ever have. Here are just a few reasons why:
1) She's super funny. I mean really funny. Even when she's moody & pregnant, which has been pretty much all the time over the past 6 years! (I'm talking about the pregnant part ... not the moody!) haha!
2) She loves to read, so we have that in common! She's also a pop culture junkie. We would kick butt at a team trivia show. We figure we'd be a pretty much unbeatable force.
3) She always takes my side. Always. If she doesn't agree with me, she finds a way to play the devil's advocate without me noticing it.
4) I can talk to her 5 times a day and we still can find new things to talk about each time. This, by the way, which annoys her husband at times...especially if those conversations occur when he's trying to watch tv!
5) She is one of the kindest people I know. She is always doing something for someone, whether it's taking a neighbor kid to school or baking something for someone....she's always doing for others.
I could go on and on!!!! Lori, I miss you! Happy Thanksgiving! HYMI!
1) She's super funny. I mean really funny. Even when she's moody & pregnant, which has been pretty much all the time over the past 6 years! (I'm talking about the pregnant part ... not the moody!) haha!
2) She loves to read, so we have that in common! She's also a pop culture junkie. We would kick butt at a team trivia show. We figure we'd be a pretty much unbeatable force.
3) She always takes my side. Always. If she doesn't agree with me, she finds a way to play the devil's advocate without me noticing it.
4) I can talk to her 5 times a day and we still can find new things to talk about each time. This, by the way, which annoys her husband at times...especially if those conversations occur when he's trying to watch tv!
5) She is one of the kindest people I know. She is always doing something for someone, whether it's taking a neighbor kid to school or baking something for someone....she's always doing for others.
I could go on and on!!!! Lori, I miss you! Happy Thanksgiving! HYMI!
The Gap? On Thanksgiving?
Okay, I was talking to my BFF, Lori, a while ago and we were discussing all of the places that were open today. Our list included:
1) KMart (as blogged about in my post from last night....)
2) WalMart! Seriously? Can't you do without a fishing pole or a bobble head Nascar driver for one day??
3) McDonalds
4) The Gap. This one just kills me. Lori told me the story about how, one Thanksgiving, she was stuck at her mom's house with nothing to do so they went to KMart and bought a game. Okay. That at least makes more sense than going to the Gap on Thanksgiving day.
5) There's a football game on TV. I don't feel too bad for the players, though, because they make an awful lot of $$ to be working on the holiday. Besides, what would men watch on tv after dinner? Also lots of hockey games. I can understand hockey a little bit more because most of the players aren't American, so it's really just another day for them.....
My whole point is this: What's wrong with not having to do anything for a day but spend it with friends and family??????????????
1) KMart (as blogged about in my post from last night....)
2) WalMart! Seriously? Can't you do without a fishing pole or a bobble head Nascar driver for one day??
3) McDonalds
4) The Gap. This one just kills me. Lori told me the story about how, one Thanksgiving, she was stuck at her mom's house with nothing to do so they went to KMart and bought a game. Okay. That at least makes more sense than going to the Gap on Thanksgiving day.
5) There's a football game on TV. I don't feel too bad for the players, though, because they make an awful lot of $$ to be working on the holiday. Besides, what would men watch on tv after dinner? Also lots of hockey games. I can understand hockey a little bit more because most of the players aren't American, so it's really just another day for them.....
My whole point is this: What's wrong with not having to do anything for a day but spend it with friends and family??????????????
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
I tried to put Mollie's Thanksgiving hat on him last night, but he hid from me. I found him in my dark office hiding.... How cute is he? So I'm feeling a little blue today because it's Thanksgiving tomorrow and I'm away from my family. And every muscle in my body aches from working 12 hours. Seriously. I could hardly walk up the stairs tonight. I think I'll list what I'm thankful for this year:
1) My family. Seriously. I have some of the coolest relatives ever. My sister is sooooo funny and hip (even if she's a little obsessive about her puppy). My parents so do not look like senior citizens. And they send text messages! Seriously. Who has parents that text? I would guess not that many! I'm so lucky to have a grandma that's still with us...not many people my age can say that! (GASP! Did I just say "my age"???) And aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.... that rock. I don't see them often enough, but I think of them all often. Of course some of them are nuttier than fruitcake.... Disclaimer: For those relatives that may be reading this, I'm talking about the OTHER side of the family! :-)
2) I am relatively healthy. Of course I have ample junk in the trunk, but overall, I am pretty lucky in this area! Okay...I could be in a lot better shape, but this is Thanksgiving. New Year's resolution time!
3) I am thankful that I don't work for KMart! They are open tomorrow. On Thanksgiving. Seriously? I mean, come on, KMart! WTF? Let your people have one stinkin' day off! And speaking of jobs, I am thankful I have one. Even though I don't love it right now, I'm excited that I am able to move back to Columbus to be closer to my family. And I am happy that I have a pretty cool boss. That means a lot. Especially since my last one was a mean old crone. (Okay, I know that wasn't nice, but I can't be all hugs and kisses today!)
4) I have a great house. I love this house. I love it more than my last house, which I loved too! I'll be really sad to leave it..... But I'm lucky that am able to have had such a great house.
5) I am thankful for my friends. I have some really cool friends that are always there for me no matter what. I am sometimes amazed that I attract such wonderful people. The past few months (heck, the past year and half!) have been tough, but there are a few people I can always turn to.....
Okay - I feel better! Happy Thanksgiving to my friends and family! I love you!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Of Course! More Snow!
I took this picture from inside my toasty dining room last week. More snow. Last week we had "Snow - Round Two" and "Snow - Round Three". And I just heard on the tv that it's supposed to snow more tomorrow. But not much - only 5 inches or so. "Only" five inches! This place is ridiculous! I just keep thinking..."only 14 more days .... only 14 more days....."
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Oh No He Didn't!
Okay....I love Kayne West. Love. him. I think he's a genius. However, he was quoted on Yahoo today slamming Justin Timberlake. Now, as much as I love Kayne, nobody messes with my JT! Here's what he said.....
"I realize that my place and position in history is that I will go down as the voice of this generation, of this decade, I will be the loudest voice," he said in an interview on Wednesday. "It's me settling into that position of just really accepting that it's one thing to say you want to do it and it's another thing to really end up being like Michael Jordan."
The Grammy-winning rapper-producer said Justin Timberlake had a chance to be music's MVP, but hasn't put out enough material. (Timberlake's last album was in 2006, while West released a CD last year and is releasing his latest — "808s and Heartbreak" — on Nov. 24.)
"There were people who had the potential to do it but they went on vacation, so when Justin went on vacation I made albums," he said. "And it just came out to be that."
Hmmmm.... Not too impressed with him right now! I will cut him a little slack b/c I know he's been terribly upset since his mama died from botched plastic surgery..... This is your warning, West.
"I realize that my place and position in history is that I will go down as the voice of this generation, of this decade, I will be the loudest voice," he said in an interview on Wednesday. "It's me settling into that position of just really accepting that it's one thing to say you want to do it and it's another thing to really end up being like Michael Jordan."
The Grammy-winning rapper-producer said Justin Timberlake had a chance to be music's MVP, but hasn't put out enough material. (Timberlake's last album was in 2006, while West released a CD last year and is releasing his latest — "808s and Heartbreak" — on Nov. 24.)
"There were people who had the potential to do it but they went on vacation, so when Justin went on vacation I made albums," he said. "And it just came out to be that."
Hmmmm.... Not too impressed with him right now! I will cut him a little slack b/c I know he's been terribly upset since his mama died from botched plastic surgery..... This is your warning, West.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Canadians Love Them Some Target
Okay... so this is what I see when I pulled in to my Target at 11am Saturday morning. Truly the picture doesn't do it justice. I counted 13 buses from Canada in the Target parking lot! 13 BUSES!!!! SERIOUSLY? IS ERIE THAT MUCH OF A DRAW FOR CANADIANS??? Well, the answer is yes! I struck up a conversation with some perfectly cheerful Canadian ladies and they told me that the tax in Ontario is 14%. Yikes! So our zero tax on clothing and 6% on everything else in Pennsylvanis is certainly appealing. And Erie just happens to be the closest place in PA to Canada. Lucky us. Locals (Erians??? Erites???) have a love / hate relationship with Canadians. They make shopping in Erie on weekends M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E. And although I know I am prone to exaggeration, I am not kidding on this one! However, those money-spending northerners certainly help local businesses! Mom & dad are coming up this weekend to help me pack and I'm going to take them by the mall and Target so they can see for themselves. It's something you just don't believe until you see it!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Holiday Shopping Reminders
Ahhhh fall... The nip in the air, the falling leaves, and the rumble of tour buses bringing Canadians to shop Erie can only mean one thing: Christmas is right around the corner! As someone with 17 years of retail under her belt (OMG am I really that old??), I have a few shopping reminders for you:
1) Despite popular belief, retailers do NOT hide hot items in the stockroom. There is no purpose in that. They want to sell stuff and it's not selling in the stockroom.
2) On a similar note, employees do not get "all the good stuff". I've worked at three different retailers and none of them let employees hold the super-hot-toy-of-the-moment. In fact, you would be surprised to learn that employees are usually the LAST ones to get anything...if they get it at all.
3) Speaking of employees, be nice to them! It's not their fault that prices are high or there are no more Tickle Me Spidermans available. It's really, really tough dealing with crabby customers all day.
4) If your child is making a mess in the store, yank him back away from the merchandise and give him a swat on the a**!
5) If your kid is screaming in a store, take him home!
6) If your kid is screaming in a store, take him home! (Yes, I listed it twice b/c it's that important!)
7) Smile to other customers. Remember that there are many people who can't afford to buy any gifts and would love to be fighting the crowds at (fill in the name of your retailer of choice here).
1) Despite popular belief, retailers do NOT hide hot items in the stockroom. There is no purpose in that. They want to sell stuff and it's not selling in the stockroom.
2) On a similar note, employees do not get "all the good stuff". I've worked at three different retailers and none of them let employees hold the super-hot-toy-of-the-moment. In fact, you would be surprised to learn that employees are usually the LAST ones to get anything...if they get it at all.
3) Speaking of employees, be nice to them! It's not their fault that prices are high or there are no more Tickle Me Spidermans available. It's really, really tough dealing with crabby customers all day.
4) If your child is making a mess in the store, yank him back away from the merchandise and give him a swat on the a**!
5) If your kid is screaming in a store, take him home!
6) If your kid is screaming in a store, take him home! (Yes, I listed it twice b/c it's that important!)
7) Smile to other customers. Remember that there are many people who can't afford to buy any gifts and would love to be fighting the crowds at (fill in the name of your retailer of choice here).
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Kid Gets What He Deserves
Okay. Just for a minute put aside your feelings about who you want to win this election and check out this newsreel. As a homeowner, I totally agree with what this guy did. I personally hate campaign signs of any kind! I hate them in other people's yard, I think they make the neighborhood look yucky, etc.... (The same goes for those big inflatable yard things, but I'll save that rant for another day!) However, I wouldn't go around taking them down because it is the home owner's right to display anything in their yard that they want. NOTE: The child was not actually hurt!
http://perezhilton.com/tv/index.php?ptvid=c4f0529ff4b65
http://perezhilton.com/tv/index.php?ptvid=c4f0529ff4b65
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