Guess who's back, back again.....

So the irrate customer we had last night, the one we refunded his money to, comes back. Around 230 or so,cause I was on break. I hear over my walkie(one of the times I didn't turn it off) support manager cindy and assistant manager ranell dial 181 please. One cop car had already pulled in as I was asking if it was important because I was on break. No answer as a second cop car comes flying into the lot. I put out my cig and headed in to see what was up, as it dawns on me that 181 is layaway. I get near the carts and a maintance member tells me our friend is back in. I gave him my jacket to take care of as I went running ( yes litterally) to layaway. He is there with the cops, two csms, and the assistant manager. He asks me if his name is John Hayes(one of four now) and then turns around and tells the cops his name is Joshua. He wants to put a layaway on without an ID. This is the same guy that was complaining yesterday that we didn't ask for an ID. So after much devating about his name and him admitting that he had been drinking and smoking weed, plus had more at his house, the cops take him to the hospital to get him on his meds he had been neglecting. So he is gone, right? Wrong. He comes back around 530. He wants to buy the things he had to leave behind. As I am staling him for the cops to come again, he tells me that the reason he was getting treated bad was because he was gay. Asked me if I knew that, I said no. He then starts to fill out an application for loss pervention. The cops showed up before he could finish. As he is checking out some things, he gets up in the assistant managers face to demand an apoligy for an associate. He also said he would be back tonight or tommrrow. What a night!
All I got to say now is I am glad I am off the next two nights and don't have to see him again.

Thanks Mobil

What a Friday night! This one actually started on Wedsday. We had an irrate customer come in layaway and give our associate a hard time. I heard about it after, and there was a problem with his name. It was not the same one on the computer as on his ID. The address was differant too. The guy final left. Came back on Thursday night and I got to hear the whole thing as our Assistant Manager Cameron tried to explain that if the name and address did not match, we cannot refund the layaway by canceling it. The associate who put it on was off, so there was no other way to verify who he really was. Makes sense, right? The customer argued more and wanted all of our last names. Cameron was saying that we do not have to give our last names out and that we would discuss it with the store manager in the morning. The customer was going to call the cops. Cameron said go ahead and they would tell him the same and escort him out. So last night he returns. No cops, no attitude this time. The associate who put the layaway on was there, and we were able to refund his money to him. We leave the layaway, Cameron mentions he wants a drink and I go out for my ciggerette break. Just as I get ready to go in, he comes out. I spend another 10 minutes outside with associates waiting for him to leave so I know they will be ok.
The next problem as we go in are kids fooling around in the sporting goods area. So we head over there. About 10 of the 16-18 year olds look at Cameron, flanked by the two supports, and break it up. They buy a football and go outside to play in the lot. Cameron has to call the cops to get them out. By now he is ready to lose it. I go to change the camera tapes with him and tell him it's nothing really. I worked at Mobil for 6 years. It trained me for the stress of kids and rude customers, to be polite about them all. We then discussed me becoming an assistant manager myself and how he will give me a recommendation for it. He has been on overnights for 2 weeks or so. I have already made an impression on him as a good worker, and last night keeping calm was the best. So I have to say thank you to my old asshole bosses for pushing me over the limit and treating me like shit. Also to all the shitty customers I had for training me for this job now.
Other than that, there is not much happening right now. Tired with all the work now. Five nights at 9 hours is killing the feet. The sleep sucks lately. But there is a lining on the cloud. Not sure if it is silver, but there is a lining. Cameron also mentioned that since I am a support, I am pretty much a shoe in for the advancement. They would rather have me than someone off the street. So even Evil Fran has to get some thanks from me. She is teaching me to be more paitent than I thought I could be. So until later.............Thanks to all the assholes.

New Shoes

So I got new shoes today. Actually, Kat got me new shoes. As my friend Tony would say, "Their GRRRRREEEAAAATTTT" Yeah, Tony the tiger is good for that. Anyhow, they are alot more comfortable than the boots that give me blisters, and better than the Kswiss that have holes. So I am happy with them. The real test will be work tonight. I hope they hold up.
I called a job offer today. Hoping to get out of WalMart, but not at this place. It is a 3rd party collection agency. Temp for 3 months at 9 an hour and then it is commission. He said most people average 14, but it is in Oxford, so the travel time and money will not be worth it, even if we could afford the 3 months of less pay. So I did the smart and good thing and said no thanks.
I also had an idea today. Maybe the problems with Fran was because my old Ass. Manager was a wimp. He never really puts his foot down and stands up to anyone. Even the associates could walk on him. The new crew is better and two of the three I know will stand up for me. Let's call them Ted and Cameron. Cameron likes to goof off, but get the work done. Makes it fun to be there most nights. Ted is more strict, but has good ideas on how to improve things. He has said that if we have faith in him, the job will become alot easier. I think he is right, but it will be a tough road to get there. Both are good guys though, and I have seen them stand up to higher managers before. I have little doubt that they would again if it is bogus reasons that we get accused of. Makes the job a little less stressful. I still want out, but not as bad right now. Then again, Fran is on vacation too, so it is fun and games for now.
Guess that's a wrap for catching up for now. Still looking, little happier, and the best news, New Shoes!!!

Stupid????

So this is the week of the new schedule. I now have Sundays and Mondays off. I guess it's not bad. I just hope to still have time off with Kat. I worked Saturday night and applied for the assistant mangement program. Not sure if it was smart or stupid yet. I still kinda want to continue there, but the people I deal with is so frustrating. Fran and others make my job so difficult to do, why would I want to have more responsibilites? So I am waiting now to see if they accept me or not. I also heard that the second time you apply they cannot turn you down. Not sure how true that is, but it is worth thinking about. It would make our dreams come true faster if I can get the job, but the stress........not sure if it will get better or worse.
Oh well, just thought I would write and get it out. The new mangement team seems better for overnights, but it is still early. At least they listen. And they explain what is going on. So the info is helpfull.

We are all monsters

Ok, so I went on this amazing date last night. She brought me flowers and "crack in a box" to start. It was so sweet. The flowers had a little stuffie in it of a teddy bear with a hat on. Really cute. Then we got into my car and headed for Portland.
On the way down we were talking about how people have to have labels to make us feel more comfortable. Whether it's white, black, yellow, gay, straight, lesbian, femme, butch, new yorker, southener, rich, famous, etc.... we all label ourselves and others so we feel more unique and comfortable. It also puts us in a minority of some sort because let's face it, how many drag king,butch, lesbian, animal lover, walmart managers can there be? We then got on the subject of Seseame Street. How all the monsters were happy to get along because hey, their monsters. How many of them are there? Well, where they live, lots. And they are all the same. They don't care what color, size, or tongue length they have. They are all monsters inside. Just like us. How long until we relize, Hey we are all just monsters inside living on one big Seseame Street. Yet this eludes most of us, including world rulers, like Presidents and Queens. I still hate Elmo though. Not cause he is red or has a squeaky voice.....wait, no it's the voice.
So anyhow, we saw Brokeback Mountain. Great love movie. Yeah, I guess it is a gay cowboy flick. I normally don't care for the sappy love shit, but it trys to make a point. Yep, we are all monsters inside. Some of us should really hide the evil parts though, and just learn to accept and get along. Wishful thinking, I know. The movie was set in 1963 and up to 1983. Not alot has changed in America since 1983 either. I thought we had made leaps and bounds in society. Last night, I was reminded I was wrong yet again. Sure technology has advanced, as well as science and education. But the emotional stage in 83 is still the same as in 63 and today. We have not accepted the differances in people like we thought we have. I think that fact hit me the hardest and made me sadder than the movie could.
To wrap this up, I brought my date back to her house, got invited in, and the rest, well....
Let's not discuss that here. I will leave it at my wife is a wonderful date even after close to two years of togetherness. She always surprises me.

Almost

My wonderful wife has yet again talked me out of something stupid. I did not quit, as much as I would have liked too. Kat has talked me into staying and giving a weeks notice when I find a new job. I know that anywhere I go it will be the same, but when you have Evil Fran gunning for you, it's difficult to get much done. I did relize all my problems lately stem from her. The store manager seems to not care so much, although he did make it easier for me to stick around a little longer. I just can't wait for the day I can go in and know it's the last I will have to see of the place through the eyes of an employee. It's not as pretty.
I hope to meet a new friend today. One of the associates I work with has a nephew who just recently came out of the closet. I hope to help make the trasition an easier one for him. Kat has also agreed to help. The guy seems nice and very emotional. I hope that some day things will be easier for all of us to be able to come out and not get the criticisim we do now. Parents I am finding are the worst. I got lucky, my family has always known and always accepted it. Plus they all love Kat and can see how happy we are together. That is saying something for my parents especially because they were born in the middle 30's. Not much tolerance if any then. I always think I got lucky with my parents and family though. We may be rednecks, but we are understanding rednecks and can learn to adjust to the times. It's a big reason Kat fits in with us so well, she is one of the most open minded and well adjusted person I know. Course I may be biased, I do love her.
So the job hunt continues. In three months I can sign my soul away and become an assistant manager. If Fran doesn't stop me in the time left. Why can't she just transfer again? Why did she come back? Oh well, at least I know if I can handle her in the next 3 months, I can handle almost anything else this company can dish out and throw in my face.

Another Year

So another one goes by. This year I hope will be better. Although the last year was a good one for me. I married Kat, my soulpartner, and hope to have many more with her at my side. I reconnected with a dear friend, E, and hope to have many more with her too. My neice and her husband have been a tremendous help in my day to day life, as they will be always. I also reconnected with a missed friend, Paige. I missed her and her humor alot, and never really noticed until we started to talk again. Besides Kat, E, and Sarah, she is the only one I could never fool with my masks of happiness. She is also one of the few that can tell my mood by me just saying hi.
I am going to quit my job, and hope I can get a new one in the next week. I have applied at two so far, and will look for more later, when I am awake. The bullshit has to end somewhere, and since I can't seem to get work to stop, I guess I will. Takes too much out of me and I really want to quit smoking. I went through a half pack at least last night. Not good for my health or sanity. Funny, when you go to work there people say how great of a company it is. When you get enough and go to quit, they are always backing you up and wondering how you stayed as long as you have. I did meet my love there, and was proposed to there, so I do owe them for that. Think that is all I owe them for and have paid in full and then some. I won't go on to bitch anymore on that subject.
I applied to be a store manager at Movie Gallery. Cross your fingers for me. It would be a great change and a good job. Plus it is right down the street. Can't go wrong there. I could go to work in a blizzard. Just walk across the street basically.
Kat got a dream job at Spencers. I am still jealous about it. I love that she is getting out of a stressful situation though. Now she can concentrate on her art and photography. Both of which I hope she can go far in. I know it would make her happy.
That is all for this morning. Hope you all had a great new year.