Getting Back to Normal (or as close as I get)

So I was off today until four PM so decided to sleep in. My son came into  the bedroom at ten thirty carrying my cell telling me it was work calling. My first comment was "Why'd you answer?" He said he thought it may have been important.

When you work for a restaurant and aren't scheduled to be  there, there's usually only one reason they are calling. They need you  to work.

I answered the phone and found out I was right.  A server who is a single mom had to pick up her kid from school with a stomach virus and  they wanted to know if I wanted to come in? Hmmm, that would be a "No" but really like this single mom so  said I would jump in the shower and head on in.

Tim ironed a shirt for me while I took a shower and twenty  minutes later I was ready to walk out the door when the restaurant  called back and said it was slow, not to worry  about coming in.

Well, crap. I put on make up for nothing. I decided to go on in just to make sure no large parties had walked in.  They were fine without me but told them I would run a few errands close by and if they needed me in  the next hour or so to just call me on my cell.

I decided to go to the Unemployment office to file from my mattress gig dismissal. I thought I remembered where it was but have only had to go there one time in my fifty three years, when I got fired from the "Western Sizzler." (I still refuse to use their real name)

I walked into a crowded room with two full lines. All I saw were signs for food stamps and the WIC program but when you get into a long line in a government office you never give up your spot so I remained in line.

After thirty minutes I got my chance  to talk to the lady behind the secret glass partition and showed her my separation notice. She dully said "Building behind this one." (so much for customer service with  a smile)

I went to the building behind the building and had to try three doors before I found one that would open. I was standing in a foyer with another woman who said "What do we do now?" so we started knocking on doors. A lady finally opened one and the other woman who was with me in the lobby said she was just there to drop off a letter and left. I once again showed my separation notice and this woman told me I was in the wrong place.

Sheesh.

I got back into my car and headed over to the Dept. of Labor. Woo-Hoo, I was second in line! Once she told me where the Department of Labor was, it all came back to me. I had been at  the office where I had had to apply for food stamps four years ago, when Western Sizzler fired me and Tim was out of work too. I had been so humiliated and upset at  the time they even took me into a back office where I could cry in private to a case worker.

I handed her my notice of separation and she asked me a few questions and if I wanted to file snail mail or online? I chose online and she pointed to a computer.

Two hours later I walked out and wondered how much longer snail mail could have taken? I had a major hot flash while trying to complete the form and was drenched in sweat. When I finally finished, and had answered the question "Do  you own or work on a farm?" three times was soaked, literally. When I walked back up to the counter fanning myself with my confirmation number, I told the woman behind the desk, "Crap, THAT FELT like a job!"

I should get extra money for not spontaneously bursting into flames in a government office.

It won't be much but will certainly help. I've been working and paying into  the system since I was fourteen and have only claimed once before...in these  days and times, I call that a win!

Went into work at four, chugged four cups of coffee and waited on the tipping gods.

Didn't happen. It was  slow but in the end pulled out a twenty five dollar tip on an eighty dollar tab.

So I got registered for unemployment after sweating off at least five pounds and made enough money to eek us through  til I work again on Wednesday.

Tim makes the big call tomorrow about his job offer so will go to bed with fingers crossed and covers as light as possible.

This weather in the south is making me goofy. Cold one day, hot the next.

Waiting on possibly  the best news we have had in four years.

Til next  time...Hottin Cotton.

The Loading is Done...For This Week

No more loading for me this week...I'm done. I only had to move one table, four chairs and one swivel chair today and was grateful. I work again there on Saturday but  have a stock guy on weekends to move and load all the furniture. It's amazing what you can move with dollies!  I've moved entire sectionals by myself using them. I don't get paid commission until it's out the door so trust me, I can load some furniture.

A dear friend of mine from the Western Sizzler I got fired from came by to visit me today at work. Actually she is the one who told me to start a blog. Big shout out and  thanks to Lisa! While she was there I sold a table with four chairs and a leather swivel chair to a woman who wasn't in the store fifteen minutes...my kind of sale! She's having it delivered tomorrow so I only had to roll it all out to the pick up area. I was telling my friend how I only made commission once products left the store therefore try to make them take it with them if it will fit.

(I've told this story before but I'm  a repeater by nature so bear  with me.) I told my friend about a woman who came in when I first started working alone. Number one, who goes to buy a queen size mattress driving a Camry?  Well  this woman did. Massey happened to come by as I was finishing the sale. I asked the woman if she wanted to take it with her? In broken English she asked how and I  told her we'd just tie it to the roof of her car. Massey helped me load the mattress and roll it out, hoist it onto her tiny vehicle and I went back inside for some twine. We had the woman roll down her windows and that was the last time she helped us. She just stood off  to the side.  No problem. I wanted that commission and where there is a will there is a way. I didn't tell her I had never tied a mattress down before but with Massey on one side and me on the other we got all busy with the twine and had that sucker strapped down in no time.  Then Massey asked how the woman was going to get back in her car? We had wound the twine through the open windows and over the roof with the doors shut. I shushed Massey and we unwound it, opened the doors and rewound it.

"There you  go!" I proudly announced to my  customer. I told her to drive off kinda of fast to make sure the mattress didn't fly up from the front. She looked at me kind of funny but got in her car and took off. The mattress didn't move so I gave her  two thumbs up and yelled "Drive slow!"

Never heard back from her so  assume we did a pretty good job.

I managed to shove a writing desk and chair into the back of a Dodge Durango yesterday and once even loaded a king size bed, mattress and box springs into and on top of a Suburban.

I've goofed up a bit along the way, made some mistakes but have all in all done okay with this new job. (I think)  I like it, it's hard sometimes but I've never been one to shy  away from a challenge. Other times it's slow and have some "Me Time"  something I've missed greatly. I get  all my work caught up and when no one is in the store  pick out a comfy chair and read.

Tomorrow I pick up a serving tray again. It's like I'm living a double life...but at least I'm living!

On another note, Ziggy's "Birth mom" had pups again and my friend finally posted a video of the pups. OMG...if I had enough land I would take all of them! Ziggy is the best  worst dog we've ever had and  love the little guy. He's the happiest dog I've ever met and even when he does something wrong, he's awfully proud of his handiwork and with tail waging has a huge smile on his face that is simply hard to resist.

He was happy and proud when he took down our Christmas tree last year while we were out, pulling all the lights and ornaments off. He was extremely proud of the carpet he chewed up, down to the sub floor in Massey's old bedroom when we left him locked in while gone to Tim's parent's house for a few hours. He is simply the best worst dog!

He loves his Frisbee, even when it looks like this. Believe it or not, it will still sail through the air in this condition. I went to Wal Mart after work tonight and picked him up a new one when I got some groceries.

So here's a recap of my week. Got my dryer vent cleared.  Got my new/used dryer installed.  Sold furniture like a boss. Brought home eight loads of free sod and covered all bare spots in my front yard. Actually have the house pretty clean, cooked dinner twice and don't have to be at work til five on Friday.

Hopefully it won't rain tomorrow and can ride ole Johnny Boy up to the front of the subdivision  and cut it before work to make another sixty bucks.

I'm turning in early and waking up early. You never know how much time, how many minutes or even seconds you have left.

Strike while the iron is hot!

As a side note, if any one knows of a job in logistics, freight or trucking please let me know. My husband Tim is a great worker, been in the business for  over twenty years and  looking for  a job.
Just thought I'd throw it out there, they say it's all about networking and I have had over 72,000 hits on my blog. Never hurts to ask!

Til next time...COTTON