Friday and a work day

[Bethers]

Ok, Karen, make me feel bad that I'm working in my retirement lol. I think this is nearing an end. Through next summer then I think no more, although I might occasionally volunteer. I find I like being forced to be sociable sometimes. But I understand the not wanting to have to be on the clock. I'm typing this when I should be getting ready. haha. I'll be off much of next winter. I'm already planning through 2022! Then maybe I'll be winging it more again.

Speaking of making long term plans, I'm hoping to visit Karen West in April next spring. Karen suggested she can fit more people if anyone can come. Exact dates might not be known for months yet. But it would be great to have a mini gtg. It would be dry camping. So think about it!

Ok, I really have to get a move on. Since I've been off two days I have no idea what to expect today. Easy would be nice haha.

[BarbaraRose]

Good morning gals!

Just had a whole post written out and it went "poof"...

After I posted yesterday I fell back to sleep and woke up a few hours later with my shoulder and arm hurting bad again . Must have moved it wrong while sleeping. So I didn't feel up to doing much all day. I did go to WM for some things. When I got home I realized I was missing several items that I had paid for. Didn't feel like going back right away so I called them and told them what happened and what I was missing and said I would come back in today. It was over 100* so I wasn't too enthused about getting back out in it.

Pain is still bad this morning running all down my left arm. I have an appointment at 10:30 for my 2nd vaccine so I might really be hurting later today. Then tomorrow is my appointment for my MRI. I hope I feel up to that because I really need to find out what is going on with my shoulder. Luckily, I don't go back to work until next Friday so I can hopefully, get back to feeling better by then. Not happy with this setback.

Beth, can you do some stretching exercises before you start work to loosen up your muscles?

Anita, sounds like your new place will be really nice!

Anne, your ex sounds like a real piece of ...work! Yikes!

Judy, hopefully taking the summer off will help you decide what to do in the fall. Maybe one class will be doable for awhile.

I found out from Covid that I need a reason to get my butt out of bed in the mornings, so when I retire I will have to have either a part-time job or volunteer, probably at an animal shelter. There is a cat shelter near here that always needs "professional kitty cuddlers" especially in the spring during kitten season. I have a client who does that and loves it! I could get out of bed for that! Especially since I have a cat who doesn't like to cuddle. Then in the summers I would travel.

Time to get up and head out for my shot...hoping for the best on feeling OK afterward. I think I will stop at WM right after and get that out of the way before I have any side effects.

EDIT: I just rescheduled my vaccination to Monday. I don't want to take any chances on being too sick for my MRI tomorrow.

[Acadianmom]

Beth, I am close enough to make it to Karen West's. It would be great to see you and any that could make it.

Karen, thanks for the information about the receiver. You saved me from having to box it up.

I gave some thought to volunteering too but the having to show up was a game breaker. lol I won't even make an appointment before noon if I can help it.

I don't know how many times I have been to town since I put dog food on my list but if I don't go get some today I will have to share my dinner. I have been letting Sugar walk off leash since the crazy neighbor lost his car. If there is water in the ditch she goes and lays in it. I don't know why she hates a bath so much. She bails off into the pond if I let her go with me.

Barbie, hope you can get some relief for your shoulder. Harold had quite a few "horse injuries" and he thought the rotator cuff surgery was the worst. I think once you hurt a joint it doesn't take much to re-injure it. I sprained both wrists in junior high school and holding the saddle horn riding a cutting horse would hurt my wrist again. Hope you get your things back from Walmart. The last time that happened to me they had to view their cameras before they would do anything. They wanted to give me what I didn't get but by then I had already bought more so got a credit. I am just pissed off at Walmart in general. When I go to Walmart I usually have a basket full and I don't want to have to scan my own stuff on the short counter. I feel like going to a store with real checkers and telling Walmart how much I didn't spend in their store. I had quit going to Super One because the store was so dirty but I tried them last week and it was much improved. And they had 5 lanes open. Don't piss off old ladies.

Martha

[retiredhappy]

I'm so happy that Beth is planning a visit. I miss the GTG's and seeing the RV ladies. I have one 30 amp hookup, water available and we have a blueboy if you need to dump. We also have a trailer with a queen size bed and a sofa that folds down, that is hooked up to power and water if you just want to drive your car. My shower in the house is available to anyone that wanted a hot shower. We have 27 acres of total peace and quiet. We can sit around my firepit, drink wine (or whatever) and exchange stories. Dogs welcome, of course. There is a GREAT Italian family owned restaurant and a good Mexican place. We also have Ma's Cafe near us - regular home cooked food. I would LOVE to have some of you come visit. Bob Sandlin State Park is five miles away if you want to kayak or hike. I just turned 80 and would consider this my last hurrah so please think about coming. No sightseeing in our little country town, just peace and quiet and lots of wildflowers in bloom in April.

[BarbaraRose]

Karen, if I didn't have to work and wasn't so far, I would love to come for a GTG.

I went to WM and they just told me to get the things I was missing and bring them back up to Customer Service to have them check the receipt. So that was easy. They got some fresh corn in so I picked up a couple ears of that too. Also a bunch of grapes. I refrained from buying any chips or chocolate. Back home now and gonna take a pain pill and rest a bit. It is already 104* outside so not doing anything out there today.

I also stopped at the library and dropped off some books and then stopped for breakfast before going to WM. Pancakes, eggs and bacon. Yum!

Need to check on today's Deep Cleaning task but will probably have to wait on actually doing it until I feel better. Tomorrow I might have to go to Great Clips at the other WM and have my manager wash my hair for me. I could barely even put my shirt on this morning.

Lola just came in from the porch. Guess it is too hot out there for her too.

I ordered yellow towels from WM last week and they just came. They are the perfect shade of light yellow! Yay!

[JudyJB]

Regardless of the store, I always go through the regular checkout lines because I figure they should hire people to check us out. Plus, I always have problems with at least one item in the self-check lines. So, yesterday, I went to a Walmart in Grants, NM, and it had only one checkout line for people who bought cigarettes, etc. The rest was self-checkout only!!!!

I think that is where stores are trying to go--cut down checkout lines until nothing is left!! I backed out and went through the sole staffed checkout line.

I was planning to go to Mesa/Phoenix next week, but it is 98-100 degrees predicted there, so I think I am going to cancel my reservations and head through Flagstaff. I had wanted to go to the botanical gardens, but not in 100 degree heat!! Trying to get to Napa to say goodbye to my kids, so will head through I-40 instead of I-10.

[Bethers]

I actually prefer the self checkout lanes most of the time. I definitely prefer bagging my own groceries. An fyi, most Walmarts put on more employees during the pandemic, if they could. All employees have gotten bonuses. But many had jobs changed around. Lots of checkout people went to picking orders for those of us preferring doing pickup.

Ty is unhappy with the weather today, upper 70's, no wind or even breeze, and sunny. He wouldn't stay out long. I'm about to give him another chance.

I got my first paycheck today. We're paid monthly. I'm ok with that. I budget better. I liked that I turned in my hours and within 15 minutes had my check.

Barbie, I've been doing stretches for a long time. I do admit that I skip some days, but try to do them every morning.

Martha, I hope you and some others can make it. We can firm up dates in the fall/winter and post it in the gtg room.

[Acadianmom]

Oh great, there is another 4 and a half hours of the football draft. There is never anything worth watching on Friday nights anyway.

I was in such a hurry to get the mowing done yesterday before it rained and now it's not suppose to rain until Sunday.

Walmart actually had 3 check out lanes open. The much bigger Walmart in Lafayette only had one checker when my son and I went.

I could have had boiled crawfish again tonight. There is a fund raiser going on in town selling boiled crawfish. We are suppose to have some next week at the campout.

Martha

[MandysMom]

I will put next spring to Tx on my list. No promises, but I'd sure love to go!
Had Curves and PT for neck today, so tonight will be tired by 9 I'm sure. I made chicken salad for supper- its near 90 here! And, of course, Mandy has to wrap her warm furry body around my neck, because I was gone about half the day. She is doing so well, I put up with my fur collar.
I'll try to post photos later. Chris and I went to nearby Folsom lake yesterday. The super bloom of Lupin was amazing but the lake at 40% and dropping over-shadowed the beauty with stark sandy brown exposed lake bottom. 36 years here, and I've never seen the lake like this.
Have a good evenng all!
Velda

[BirdbyBird]

Glad Karen mentioned it. The state park is just right down the road from her place. I know that boondocking is not for everyone. After this spring season of not working I am finding it more and more difficult to think about next year’s work season...... there will be some pondering to be done

[monik7]

I always prefer the self checkout, it’s so much faster than standing in line for a person the check you out. I use it at Costco, the grocery store and Walmart. Not long ago at Walmart when it was really busy, there were long lines at each register including the self-serve. The difference was that the self-serve line moved way faster than the others. I was in and out while people I saw in line to be checked out were still there waiting.
Sandi

[chalet05]

I'm a self-checkout person also. I don't need to know clerk's personal business - days off, lunch time, end of day, not feeling well (not that they are all like that). I particularly like bagging my own groceries so all the cold and frozen things get grouped together. Most of the helpers at self checkout are pretty attentive if you need assistance.

[snowball]

I am intimidated by the self check out... I would mess out and the machine would not be happy so getting behind me was a slow down for sure so I avoid them like CoVid
my dd tells me my arm is sore because of the vaccine ... no I had them put the vaccine in that arm cause it hurts...am pretty sure it is because I am a side sleeper and sleep on that arm so think it's the pillow.....
I still need to cancel Direct TV and if they want the 13 year old receivers the can come get them... but doubt that will happen when I canceled the one they didn't have me send it back it's still up in the bedroom
it's not been a good day but with the help of my grandson got through it
you all have a good day
sheila

[BarbaraRose]

I prefer having someone else scan and bag my stuff, altho after yesterday with not getting one of my bags, I may change my mind about that. It depends on how much stuff I have. I will do self check out if I only have a few things. I feel I shouldn't have to pay for my bags if I am doing it myself tho. I also wonder how much stuff people bag and don't pay for in the self-checkout areas. Seems like a perfect opportunity for "shoplifting". Meanwhile they have a ton of locked glass cabinets to keep people from stealing stuff.

Took a nap earlier. The pain pills make me sleepy. Pain was better when I woke up tho.

Sheila, so sorry about Shadow. (((hugs))). Such a difficult decision but it was time.

[Pooker]

Speaking of self-checkouts - this is a true story! Awhile back, I bought a few things at our local Target. Not one checkstand was lit up! An employee was standing nearby and told me I could go to the self checkouts. He tried to convince me by offering to help me navigate the screen. I don't need help - I would personally like to take my time and scan things myself but I replied that I was trying to save jobs, maybe even his! He totally didn't get it and rather than fuss any longer I went to the self checkstands.

I always feel rushed at the checkout nowadays. Now that everything is scanned, they are always way ahead of me and I feel rushed to unload the cart. Then after paying, the next order (and the actual shopper, too) are pushing me out. I don't want to walk out of a store carrying my wallet or credit card or checkbook in my hand! I'd like a bit of time to stuff everything away, thank you. However, only two of our local stores have an actual counter or long conveyer to bag things yourself. Many times I have discovered a bag of mine got mixed in with the next order on those small areas or the darn turntables with bags hooked.

I don't know about how things are going in your areas, but here it's always a crap shoot whether the store allows their checkers to use your own bags or not. If you can't use your own bags, you have to buy theirs. We have had huge bags of bags piling up until we give in and toss them in the recycle. Tell me again how we're saving the planet? Yes, they biodegrade faster, but the old free store bags were perfect liners for small wastebaskets so they were reusable too. I have a large collection of various plastic bags, fabric(?) bags, heavy duty plastic ones with handles, a few canvas ones and even 2 folding fabric box ones. Had to pay for all of them. I remember when folks had a collection of salt and pepper shakers, not shopping bags!

Okay, getting down off my podium.

Evie