Life in Retail

I work part time in a retail store. Luckily I do not work in clothes or something, I work in the meat department. Here are some things I have encountered/learned in my adventures.

Working in retail I have learned you are never doing just one thing. You have to be ready for all sorts of things, for instance, the last time I worked I was scheduled for the meat department, but saw time cashiering, working in the pharmacy, helping produce, working frozen food for grocery, and pushing carts in from outside, all while making 2 bales in a five hour shift. A 5 hour shift where I could have easily left early by finishing my area early too.

Anyway, feels like too much talking myself up....that is not what this is about. This is about encounters like Knox Mccoy mentioned here. (I really loved his blog post about the human grenades you encounter at the grocery store, because of how true it is. I encourage you to go check it out if you have not already.)

One of my favorite encounters that I get all the time while working goes something like this:

Me: Can I help you find anything?
Customer: Yes
Me:(waiting for them to ask about a product they can't find.)
Customer: (either walking away or looking at me strangely.)
Me: (walking away realizing they didn't listen to what I said and will just reply "yes" no matter what I say.)

After having this encounter most every time I work, my new plan is to start asking randomness. My next shot will be "Can I help you buy me something?" That way when they say "yes", I will quickly throw some Filet Mignons in their cart for a delicious steak dinner for myself and my wife.

Alright, that is part of my life spent in retail for now. Please feel free to stop by and see me when I work so I can talk you into buying something...if I made commission I would have like $2.53 or something by now...

Seen Now Shared 2

Welcome to the 2nd installment of Seen Now Shared, where I share things I have recently seen with you, my reader. And of course by reader, I mean my wife, at this point I know at least she reads this stuff, but mainly because I make her. Maybe it is time I force some others to come check this out.

Anyway, here is some stuff I have seen.

I have logged this info into my mind in case I ever watch someone's pets again.

 Saw this post "20 texting phrasing every parent must know." It has some graphic content, but something anyone who works with youth should know about.

This is also something that everyone who works with youth should know about.

While we are still on the youth workers awareness topics.

I bet they are awesome Grandparents...

Their dolls scare me.

  This video is quite clever and a sweet prank I want to try out sometime.

The 3rd Best State Fair

May look like a lot of people, but still rather easy to get around

 We went to the Minnesota state fair yesterday. I was told it is the 3rd best state fair behind Texas and Iowa. How Iowa? Who knows...

It was an incredible day weather wise, with a high in the 70's, and not a very crowded time, at least that is how it felt. It may have over a million people each day, but the fair has enough space to keep you from feeling like sardines.


I would have loved to have more time Minnesota's great get together, but my few hours there were quite fun. They included deep fried snickers, cheese curds, a MN wild rice burger, free samples, lots of animals, and great people watching.

Deep Fried Snickers/Instant Cavity...worth it.

The MN State fair is all about the food...and mostly about that food being on a stick. Let's discuss that food,. the Deep Fried snickers was quite delicious. I may have felt cavities occur as soon as I took my first bite, but the taste was well worth it.

Cheese Curds

We were also told that we had to try the cheese curds at the fair 1st. I am glad we did, they were good. No deep fried candy bar good, but quite tasty.

The MN wild rice infused burger was a diving moment as we saw both our pastors at the fair, and both suggested I give it a try. I am glad I did, it was very good. The rice cooked into the meat was a good flavor and their caramelized onions worked very well on it as well.

Butter sculpture...

Please click this link to read about the people who make butter sculptures. Not sure which is more weird, the butter sculptures or the pageant winners that have them make butter sculptures of themselves.

Sadly Minnesota's largest pig had already gone home as it was the last day of the fair. And to me, that is not fair....get it?

Anyway, we will be going again next year. Next time I want more food on sticks. Maybe I will have some walleye, alligator, or lobster on a stick next year.

13 Thoughts

Here are some thoughts running through my head...

1. NCAA conference realignment is so frustrating...it is all about money. NCAA athletics should be about rivalries, which we are gonna lose with all these new conferences.
2. Why don't college students understand reserved parking? Ticket after ticket doesn't stop them either.
3. Fantasy Football starts soon, I have grown tired of the coming up with hilarious team names. I am now sticking with the same team name...at least until I come up with something funny.
4. The wife and I wore our "MIZ" & "ZOU" shirts yesterday. We may be 500 miles away, but I will still be rocking black and gold on gamedays.
5. These quick thoughts seems to have a football theme.
6. Football season did just begin.
7. This week was really long with too many 8:00 a.m to 9:30 p.m. work days.
8. I have been trying to decide lately if I want to start blogging more regularly. It mostly comes down to if I believe I have anything to say that people will want to read.
9. Tyler Tarver's blog is a main reason I want to blog. If I can be 1/8th as funny as him maybe I could keep it up.
10. Tyler Tarver did write a book...I want to read it.
11. Went to a splash park this week. Not a big theme park. A park with fountains and buckets and such. Was a pretty sweet park. 
12. Is how many are in a dozen.
13. It is cold here today....which means snow soon. I expect snow within a week, just so I am not upset when it happens sooner than I want.