tomorrow

The sun will come out tomorrow-bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun!

Guys and Dolls is on right now though!!!! Makes me happy-one of my favorite musicals. gotta love it.

Deb is soon to leave and I'll have a new roommate for a couple months and then either have to move or....I'm not sure. Deb's in the lease until October-she thinks-and if I can find a new roommate-then maybe I can keep the place. either way-I'm looking at a bunch of money needed come March. How did I move here a year ago with nothing??? I have no idea! I honestly don't. So, I know I shouldn't stress-it'll be much easier with me actually being here and not in Ohio-so I should be able to find a place, blah blah blah, but I also have to save money for the vacation in September.-Oi! It's just a lot. It'll all work out though. I know...

Slow Cooker wonderfullness

I love my slow cooker!
I'm making a roast right now-it smells great.
Cabarnet marinated. Potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, shallots, garlic. Yummy!
And I have good bread-I've been in a very big bread mood lately. Bread with soup-which i had yesterday. Now I feel the need to make some french onion soup in the slowcooker and get some french bread and good cheese...
Mac and cheese in the slowcooker... i haven't done that in a while. But I have to wait until I'm not sick anymore before I can eat cheese again.
I really want to make a pork roast and saurkraut in the slow cooker next. With New Year's just around the corner-maybe I'll do just that.

The slowcooker is like whiskey for food. You let it set and cook like whiskey ages (although whiskey ages a lot longer than the food cooks). But it just cooks and all the flavors get a chance to come out and meld together. The juices come out of the meat and flavor the vegetables. I also love a great spiced cider in the slow cooker. Apple, cinnamon, cloves, spiced rum and a little punch and orange zest! See why this thing is awesome-and your whole meal is in the dish. There's nothing else i have to do other than cut the bread when I fill my plate. That is also why this thing is wonderful-forget the multiple pot and pans! I clean the slowcooker and my plate. That's it! And it's pretty much dummy proof-it's really hard to screw it up. Just throw everything in and leave it for hours. I'm loving it!

Oh and Steve is coming on Sunday!!!!!

The joy of retail

This was a recent phone call to the bookstore I work in.

"Thank you for calling (insert store name), this is Dena."
"Yes, do you have a device that works as a cello stand?"-customer on phone
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"-Me
"I'm looking for the thing you put on the floor that keeps the cello from sliding around when you play it." -customer
(taking breath, thinking Really? inside my head) "Um, no sir we don't sell anything like that here."-Me
"You don't sell anything like that?"-Customer
"No we don't sell any instrument stands here."-me
"Why not? Do you know where they would?"-customer
(seriously? is this a joke?) "well, we're mainly a book store. But I imagine a music store would sell something like that." me
"Oh, ok."click. -customer

Now, this isn't the oddest or most ridiculous questions I've gotten. but it was pretty funny at the time. I mean I work in a bookstore. And yeah we have some gift product-but intruments stands?

People crack me up. They come into a store and just assume that what they want exists. They make up a book in their head that they think should be there, and want it, can't give you a title or anything, but assume that it being such an interesting and popular subject/topic; there has to be a whole section of books on it. Not really.

And someone asked me yesterday if we had a section for "chic lit"! This is not a legitimate category or literature! We don't classify fiction on who we think may like it. And why do women need their books separated out in a special area-and most of this "chic lit" is bad lit! it's in fiction-under the authot. We don't have a special section for men either! And let's just clarify that most of the store is non-fiction! Really-anything that's not fiction is non-which means that everything else in the store is non-fiction. just so you know.

"do you work here?" when i have a nametag on, am behind the counter, and holding 16 books-is a stupid question! And I will look at you like you're an idiot too! because you are. If I'm pushing a cart full of books, have a nametag on and am holding a PDT-I probably didn't bring that suff in from home-don't ask me if I work there-then I just think you're stupid! And when you ask for the new James Patterson after that-you've confirmed it. So please think before you speak! Is it really that difficult?

Okey dokey
that's my rant.
Peace!

Thanksgiving eve

Do I or don't I??? There's a parade-there will be floats and people and merriness. And it will be early-but it is thanksgiving....
Do I need to experiece this? Well, i think I must! I'm in Chicago and there's a parade and it's going to be warm-ish.

It's T-day eve and I'm chilling with my Christmas music and Amaretto Sours. yummy in the tummy-prepping for tomorrow.

What am i thankful for you ask? Well you didn't but I'll make believe you did.
hmmm....
well, that I have a job. In this economy beggars cannot be choosers-so I'm pretty grateful for that-no matter how much my boss drives me nuts.
I have friends in town now. Yes, some moved off to the west coast-and everyone thought-what will dena jo do? but i have a couple friends of my own.
my family is mostly healthy and well.
i have a roof over my head
my car still works
it hasn't snowed yet
michael buble is no longer dating that model chic
we have a fantastic new president!!!
my chicken in the oven smells good
my facebook friend count is growing
i'm fairly healthy and happy
so not so bad here in Chi-town.

This may be the season to remind everyone what we do have-and not focus on what we do not. Like sales-i work in retail-and money is tight-so now i just want to be grateful that I have customers coming into the store at all. And just trying to keep them happy since they're spending what little money that have at my establishment.

It's a little harder to be away from the family this holiday season. With grandma p. passing away, and not being home for the holidays last year. I am feeling a twinge of homesickness-which doesn't happen often with me. But it's there a little this year. i am looking forward to the family vacation in September. Tennessee and mountains-I cannot wait.

I did see a woman wearing a medical mask in her car today-that was a little odd. It gave me a welcome chuckle though.

well those are the ramblings on thanksgiving eve.

family is

My grandmother died in May. I lived with her for almost 4 years. She was a divorced woman. Never remarried. I think she had little faith in men-her husband beat her and the kids. And 20, 30, years later-those emotional scars were as visible as the day she left. Maybe more so.

I spent 4 intense months in D.C. studying violence against women, the VAWA legislation, and working in an non-profit that helped women in war torn countries. We talked about all of the scars and bruises left on a person who's been through such violence. Especially when you can't get any help. When my grandmother and her kids were being beat-cops didn't get involved in domestic disputes. Shelters weren't there for women like they are now. She had nowhere and noone to go to. It wasn't till her youngest child was 18 that she finally left-and it was a long difficult process. One that her husband was not a willing participant in. But evenutally she got her divorce and nothing else.

She struggled to make her way on her own. And those struggles showed in her later life. The insecurities that her husband beat into her-plagued her later. She never got professional health-so she didn't know how to deal with the pain, hurt, confusion, anger, etc. She worked hard though. Got her own place-ran up her own debt-and survived. She found small times of happiness in her kids and grandkids. But I don't think she was ever really happy. Too worried about upsetting someone, or someone being mad at her. I tried to will her to have some self esteem-how silly that seems now. I used to try and encourage her to get out there and get involved and make some friends. It was probably the most depressing time of my life. I couldn't do anything-and eventually I gave up. Stayed away as much as I could so I didn't get caught up in the endless stream of pessimism and negativity. Which just led to her thinking I was mad at her.

I spent a lot of time being angry at the man that did that to her. I saw it as the root of all the problems in our family. Maybe it is. I think she's happy now. I know she is. The words sound harsh-but she had no real desire to live. She would have liked to be around for the grandkids-but the fight in her was long gone, I think. She spent her whole life fighting and surviving. That's not a way to live a life.

my family is dysfunctional. (i know-everyone's is) and that may be so-but we all have our own dysfunctions. but even with all of that-is love at question? is it doubted? i never thought so. but it is. and i guess it's not surprising. all the things not said or not done. well, sometimes that leads to the perception of a lot more not being there. that's a shame.

People Watching and Garrison Keillor

I've been talking alot about my old boss Ray lately. He was my boss at Rabbit Run and a mentor and kind of a shrink at times...or so the joke goes anyway. But he was a very observant person. He'd sit and watch backstage from above or watch an audience from the back of the house. And he'd always have really interesting perspectives and ideas of what was going on based on his people watching. He said you see a lot when you just watch. And you do. I work in retail-a constant change of people in the building. I am fortunate at my store to have 2 levels. And at times, I can stand above and just watch. As a manager, it's good to watch how your employees interaact with others-customers and other workers. And then just watching the general public. People do the oddest things, and the most annoying things, etc. It shocks me to watch people leave books and magazines everywhere. To see them go into a section and read something and quickly put it down when someone walks past. Watch them get annoyed when others get in the way or make noise. Watch them move furniture like it's their own front room. Watching them respond to the other people around them. Sometimes that's where the hope is. And sometimes not, but let's focus on the positive. People are kind to one another. They do help eachother out-reaching onto a shelf that the other can't reach-and then having an impromptu conversation with the stranger because they have read the book they helped get. Or they notice a pin on your shirt and immediately feel comfortable telling you how wonderful it is. They give up a chair so an elderly woman can sit and listen. Let the mother with the two kids go in front of them in line or simply hold the door for the person behind them. This simple acts of kindness that show there is an underlying effortless kindness in the human race-for the most part. It's nice.

Listening to Garrison Keillor in the store tonight. All of his stuff is based on the everyday person in a small midwest town. And everyone laughs at him, but they're living it. It's so real, if a little exaggerated at times, and that's why people think it's funny. He is a very witty man. And I guess he has a way with words that makes him funnier and more interesting to listen to than me. If I wrote a book about a 4th of July parade with circus wagons it would not be as fun. But such is my life. However, tonight, being just a customer I met these two great ladies. They liked my Stephen Colber bag and told me so, which got us started on a lengthy conversation of life and politics and family. And then we sat and listened to Mr. Keillor together and had a blast! All of this on the kindness of strangers that made a very simple night special. That's what's great about people. Now if they could just stop being so annoying when driving life would be good!

It's about Privacy!

Roe V. Wade is about Privacy! Why don't we get this? It's the precedent that holds up a right of privacy that people doubt is inherit in the constitution. Pro Choice does not mean pro abortion. Let's clear that up right now. Safe Legal and Rare! But also, a woman needs privacy when she's in the doctor's office. And we need to protect women who need our help and have resources available no matter what their choices. Options! We have to provide safe options for women.

We are Barack!

Yesterday at work one of my ASM's said we're like the Barack Obama team-coming in to fix the store where we're at. I lved the analogy! Cause I love Barack!

Chicago is at times overwhelming-same with my store. There's so much that making a choice becomes muddled and difficult. I just want to volunteer somewhere and I have no idea where to turn because there's soooo much. And it's not the most important decision of my life-but the fact that I have choices instead of there just being only one place to go, is different.

My roommate called me yesterday at work because she was locked out. And she sounded kind of panicked. And I thought-funny-she spent years in the middle east, most recently in Baghdad, been in bombings and shootings, but panics when she is locked out of the house.

WTF Chicago Tribune? This new guy that's running the show is nuts. Forget about the quality of the paper-we just need to fire people and make more ad space. I hate money!

Speaking of crazy! The man getting killed outside of the Olympics and this Russia/Georgia battle...What's going on in the world right now? I mean come on world! What is all of this violence solving? I don't gt it.

And so it's over

Well, my first two weeks at the Old Orchard store has been crazy! I can't even explain how different each day is...but I think I learned more in my first week than I have in the last 8 months just because I was faced with so many different situations before. And the customers! They actually listen to you here. And they want you to recommend stuff to them and they don't read Patterson! Well, I'm sure they do, but the ones that really want recommendations don't.

Also, 2 events. Charle Strouse!!!!! I met him, he sang and played, I ran sound for him! So i got to stand to the side of him basically the whole night and watch this man's hands move across the keyboard and hear his stories and memories of working in theatre and film and with the different people he's worked with. Lauren Becall, Dick Van Dyke, Sammy Davis Jr....the list goes on and on.

And then Stephanie Meyer!!! Which was fun and freaky with all the vampire faces and blood. But the sadness is that I am done with the book (tear). I will probably re-read because I read it so fast, but it's still sad that these characters will only continue in my own bland and unimaginative head. The writing is not great-it's true. And I think I noticed it a little more in the last book than the others, but I still enjoyed it. And I was right!!!! I had 3 possible scenarios that I was willing to live with, and oddly enough, the scenario that I thought the most ludicrous and improbable, was the one that happened! Crazy! But I won't elaborate on Breaking Dawn right now-it's only been out 3 days so I don't want to ruin it for anyone.

The big question in the air is will my roommate get layed off from the Trib and will she move? Which means am I moving or looking for a new roommate? I'm trying not to stress cause i moved from Ohio last time and found a place, and this time I'd be here-so theoretically it will be easier, but I hate moving. Oy!

Out of touch

Well, as if I didn't need another reminder of how out of touch I am with the people who mean the most to me. It's insane how much happens before our eyes. Just because there is a plan on my end. Or I'm checking facebook and myspace doesn't mean the people on the other side really feel you there.

After college I wasn't sure how to be friends with people whose lives seemed father beyond mine. Everyone was moving in different directions and I was unsure of my place in their lives. And so I became distant and focused on the ones geographically close, since that was easiest. Eventhough, at times, I felt like the people who I don't see everyday probably new me better than others. And now I'm in Chicago-and I'm even farther removed. It's no one's fault but my own. But it's a slippery slope on how to fix it. And now I have friends who have kids, spouses and divorces, and I'm not really sure when this all happened...I know I went to couple weddings, but it seems an almost habit to answer my email and find a new notice of a new baby. It's crazy. I prided myself on not taking things or people for granted. And I don't-In my head I'm grateful and aware, but in reality-I'm kind of an empty plate at the table. Hmph....

Where's the bathroom?

Oops I mean restroom-we don't say bathroom here. At certain stores this is the most commonly asked question. At Vernon Hills or Lincolnshire, I got asked that question more than anything else. At Old Orchard, not once. I didn't notice when I got asked it all the time, but I went a whole day without having to think about some stranger's bladder. It was kind of a nice change. Odd, I know, that this would even have a bearing on my day-but really it's insane how people can't read signs-or go before they leave home!

Old Orchard is quite a store. Looks all small and unassuming from the outside and then you walk in and realize that it's the size of a football field and then some. It's quite impressive though.

My last day at VH I got asked about what angels I knew of by a customer. At first i thought we were still talking about books, but he corrected me and wanted to know what angels I knew. It was the first time I was stumped. I later thought of funny answers like: "Los" , or Nicholas Cage, or any other famous person who or sports team who played an angel. And so finally I said-i don't know what angels really exist. And he seemed offended. HE was like-you've never heard of Gabriel or blah blah blah. And I said-well yeah-I was raised Catholic-but I don't know what ones are actually out there-I'm sure there are-but quite honestly, I don't think they're all have names I'm gonna know. He didn't really like that-and I'm sitting here thinkin-I just came to work today! Why do I always get the weird ones? He left in a bit of a huff-maybe because I wasn't salivating at the thought of angels-but I just wanted to help the person behind him so I could go to lunch-I mean geesh! And if that was one of God's messengers (which i'm sure he thinks he was) well sorry God-but you might want to pick someone a little more socially ept to deliver your word. I mean-if Jesus was Jesus he had to be able to rally a crowd and speak in a way that made them believe.

I'm off to finish my Stephanie Meyer book Eclipse-for the 2nd time. I have now read all three books in the Twilight series-and am obsessed. Read them so quickly that I am rereading them. And will now crawl under a rock until August 2nd, whn the fourth book comes out, and when i will, Stephanie Meyer willing, read that Edward makes Bella a vampire and they live happily ever after! Cause if they're not together forever they both better be dead!!! Those are the only 2 options I'm willing to consider-and quite frankly, the latter is only because I'd rather they both be dead than Bella with Jacob. Yes I'm obsessed, but this is how I pass the time and escape this sometimes too stressful world.

And so it begins...

I had this great idea when I moved to Chicago. I was going to keep a journal of my first year-all the mishaps, failures, successes, funny mistakes that first timers make, etc. I wanted to document my first year, truly on my own. In a few years I'd look back and realize what I had overcome and how I'd grown, blah blah blah, remember the first time I drove the wrong way down a one way street, etc. Well, that didn't quite happen. And I'm okay with that. And now that I have to have a google account to comment on Matt's blog, I thought, here is another chance to remind myself, and anyone else who comes across it, what's happened. Plus I work in retail-there are always annoying, funny, frustrating stories about employees and customers. Working in the retail world had reinforced Shakespeare's "All the world's a stage." He was right-it is. We're mearly players trying to get by and make someone smile while we do. And so it begins-my almost first year in Chicago. Girl from the suburbs meets big city and hopefully doesn't end up homeless.