blucola

I watch lots of shows these days, but I have no desire to be part of the fandom for; Criminal Minds, Castle, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Dollhouse (I'm ashamed to admit I watch this, despite it's complete thumb to the nose re morality), House, NCIS (has come closest, I'm thisclose to reading actual fanfic), Mentalist and Fringe. I love the shows, I'm not sure I want to take the experience into fandom. I do read a bit of Doctor Who. Beautiful Chaos is a book recced by someone on who_daily and I rather enjoyed it. A bit light on the substance, but there was some nice Wilf stuff, so I'd pass the book along to someone to read, if they asked.

I just signed my phone to Twitter. Did not set up the Twitter to lj function. I figure if people want to read my tweets, they'll go to the web or read from text. *shrugs* It's kind of fun to get little snippets of what's going on in a person's day, so I like that about it. But then there's tweets from folks like Felicia Day, who post actual useful stuff (and it's not all Dr Horrible, she's an active internetz type person.)

Work has been kind of physically tiring this week. We set up for inventory, then had to clean back up afterward. Imagine going into a bookstore and seeing every book spined or turned around, yep, that's what we did, now we get to undo it. Yay! @@ Gillian Michaels would be thrilled to see all the workout I'm giving my abs. :P

Piece of advice to all who visit bookstores and who call to see if a book is on the shelf. Please, please ask us to hold the book if you've made us trot all the way to section to locate the book. You wouldn't believe how many people call just to ask, then casually tell me no. All you do is make me want to hide the book. And determining how weird and rude you may have been, I just might. People do call to find out so they can steal books. Gah! Yes, this happened multiple times today.

OK, back to my happy place. I'm going to listen to Susan Boyle again. She proves that an ordinary, shy woman can take the world by storm simply by displaying her talent and sweet/kind charm. She's a lady in the truest sense and big name celebrities might do themselves a favor by behaving with such grace.

And I need more sleep.

Still, I must go on record, Kosher Coca Cola is amazing. Where I live they usually only have Coke with high fructose corn syrup in it, but since it's Passover, Price Chopper has a huge display of kosher Coke. The difference is sugar v. hfcs. The sugar makes the Coke not so insanely sweet. As a result the Coke tastes like what I remember Coke tasting like when I was a kid. My husband has a theory that after the Coke/New Coke fiasco, the company switched from sugar to corn syrup. Who can say? Another odd thing is that Coke Zero tastes like kosher Coke, but Diet Coke tastes like it's made with donkey pee filtered though a jock strap. *shudder* And yet, it's strangely addictive.

This is the song I was singing to distract myself. Of course, my favorite bits are the ones Billy sings. ;)

Woke up this morning feeling like, I dunno, girly? I had done my color the other day and was worried that I'm now too pale. Blond hair, really really white face. I'm looking ghostly. Some might use the term pasty...

Anyway, I did my nails and was uncertain about the bright reddish pink color. So I washed my face and put on makeup (it made sense at the time.) I have this new Covergirl knockoff of Bare Minerals' mineral veil. Today was the first day I tried it and it was great, looks the same, costs quite a bit less. Score! So, you know, if you do the skin, you have to do the eyes, which was more time consuming than it used to be, since I never wear makeup anymore. Have eyeliner pencils always been a massive pain in the ass to sharpen, cause really, ugh! Got the eyes done and now I'm finally starting to think it's all going to work out.

I started rummaging around for lip color, pulled out a deep pinkish red, figured it might go well with the nails. It looked great! If I was looking to stand around on street corners... Layered some nude colored lipstick over it, now it looks good. Nice and pink, perfect with the blond hair. About this time I'm getting in the groove. I brushed on some mascara, threw a scarf on around my neck, grabbed my coat and I was out the door, Doctor Who book in hand, intent on lunch. One Greek salad and loaded baked potato later, I decided to give into the thought that had been skirting around the corners of my mind all day, a new haircut.

Beauty Brands didn't have a stylist today, it's her b-day (and they didn't cover it, honestly, who runs a business like that?) So I headed to the salon I've always been too convinced I couldn't afford, but one of the stylists who works there has been trying to get me to come in for years, so I shrugged and figured why not?

He's so sweet, I walked in the door and he started raving about what a great job I'd done on my color. It's really not me, I have tons of silvery gray, so it just shows up as highlights. It's the first time I've considered my copious gray as an advantage. LOL I sat down and looked the salon over, watched the stylists work. I had no need to thumb through any books, I already knew what I wanted; long with long layers, like I've been doing for the past year or so. We chatted while he cut my hair and it was so relaxed. That never happens for me in salons. Usually I'm hunched down and trying not to see my big face in those unrelentingly bad lite mirrors. But I had fun, he didn't give me a hard time about wearing my glasses, so I saw the whole process and was able to give some guidance, another first!

He washed and styled my hair, giving the usual product talk. Although I think he's right about the Morrocan oil. That stuff worked wonders on my dry hair. Then the curling iron came out, they never work well for me. Except for today. My hair came out gorgeous; long and wavy and soap opera perfect. It was Sami Brady hair. I felt freaking glamorous. I couldn't stop raving and he was pleased and told me that the haircut was free. FREE! I know he's trying to win me as a client, but still, completely free? I hugged him. Then hugged him again, because he wants to do a complimentary coloring in about a month. I've never had any stylist do such a thing before. And it just made my day!

I'm sorry, I don't have any pictures and I wish I did, because I could never repeat the process. LOL Still, right now, I'm feeling pretty and for me, that's darn near priceless. :)

I've had, well, still have, a sinus infection. Apparently, from the reaction of my doctor, quite a nasty one. He couldn't get to the disinfectant gel fast enough after examining me. LOL

Anyway, that means I haven't been able to keep up with any of my flists, so if there's anything important, can someone point it out to me? I don't have the energy to read back 300+ entries. *g*

On the positive side, I have my new glasses! Yay! I can see so much better already, and that's with eyes that won't quite focus. Just imagine how it will be once the antibiotics really kick in.

Am I the only one who eats like a lumberjack when she's sick? Seriously. Anything salty and I'm I'm all over it like a horse on a lick. I fear for the midnight snack, when it's time to take the next dose.

Well, maybe not completely. But I hate that because it's on, the other networks won't put anything new on opposite it. And since they're showing it 3 TIMES this week, we also don't get to see anything decent and new on Fox. I ended up washing dishes, because there was nothing good on TV and Mark was reduced to looking up (on YouTube) Little Wing by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, then forcing me to watch the Corrs and Eric Clapton doing horrible versions of the same song (the Corrs were better than Clapton, btw). Um, help?

And then, belatedly, we realised we had my copy of The Golden Compass to watch. Not to mention all those lovely SGA SE4 episodes. *sigh*

I ended up leaving work early today because of an optical migraine. There were a couple factors that I think could have caused it; hormones and having switched from Allegra to Zyrtec. I feel light-headed on the Zyrtec. And I'm not sure, but I think I might already feel a gurgle in my lungs. A couple days on Zyrtec should clear up the mystery. If I'll get worse I'm calling CVS Caremark and pitching a fit. I pay for my insurance and it damn well needs to freaking work for me. Especially when it comes to having finally found the best medication for my body, only to be told I can't have it because it costs CVS too much. Grrr! I'm tempted to take all my prescriptions to Walgreens.

All the birthday wishes were very kind and much appreciated. I had a lovely day. My MIL took me out to lunch and even though there was craziness with the coffee and the creamer that kept clotting in our cups (ew!) the meal was yummy. I love shrimp and there were lots of the little buggers and butter sauce dripping onto my shirt! LOL

We shopped afterward. Borders had sent me a 25% off coupon for my birthday, so I got the Stargate Atlantis SE4 set. And before anyone from the store gasps at the outrage, I must remind, this is cheaper than my employee discount, AND I got to tell them that the Plaza store is doing quite well, thank. Should have seen the crest-fallen looks at that info. *snicker* OK, I'm mean, but that's not news! ;)

I still had b-day money left so I got boots! OMG, I've been wanting lace over the ankle shoes for quite a while now. And I love these boots, there's a built in arch support and my ankles are firmly laced, so maybe the heelspur can heel faster. Anyway, they're cool, so I guess that's the best thing. :)

There was a low point to the day, my idiotic insurance company won't approve Allegra, they suggest Zyrtec. Now, anyone who's been reading my journal for awhile will hopefully remember that my sinuses are like cavities grown from hell and sensitive as all get out and why the hell does the insurance company get to tell me what I should be taking for my damn allergies? *sigh* Anyway, the folks at the pharmacy persuaded me to give the Zyrtec a try. It's cheaper, at least, so maybe it'll work. Cross your fingers for me, folks, because I hate to pay full price for the generic Allegra, but I will, if I have to.

And finally, as I was leaving the grocery there was a sweet and rickety little old lady waiting at the corner to cross. Now I have to explain, that particular corner is hideously dangerous. Everyone in the area shops at that grocery store and they fly down that street and around the corner because "OMG must get the fried chicken meal cause the kids are hungry and will eat the drapes if I don't return RIGHTNOW!"

So, I took one of her bags and walked her across, she was so grateful and adorable. She couldn't understand a thing I said.

Me: Do you have a cart you could use for shopping?
Her: Oh yes, I have my own apartment!

Hee! Anyway, I walked her to her place, trotted down the steps and put the bags by the door and as I turned to leave, she was already in the stairwell, blocking me in and insisting on giving me a dollar because God told her to repay kindness. She wouldn't listen when I said I was just being a good neighbor. And jeez, if I had been dishonest, I would have gotten away with a bundle, because her wallet was stuffed with $100s and $50s. *facepalm* So, I introduced myself and get this, her name is Loraine! Yes, with just the one R. And she has a twin named Lurlene, or something. I could not believe it. What are the chances?

Such a funny day, pretty enjoyable and I have cupcakes I made. Gluten free, thank you, so yes, sugar high, whee! LOL Anyway, time for bed, night folks! And thank you!

Normally I have tons of patience for the jerks who come into my store. Because, even now, the good people out number them. But, I swear, my idiot filter has been shattered and I'm about ready to start wringing some necks. I'm not referring to the kid with OCD who was tearing out pages of a tattoo magazine. He was apologetic and paid for it. And he has a condition, so he's kinda excused. Not excused, however;

The mayor Smithville who asked repeatedly when a certain magazine comes in and didn't listen when I told her we get weeklies on Friday afternoons and the others arrive in box assortments. The flounced off with what I know wasn't the issue she wants.

The rude bitch who told me that she could tell I don't know the answer to her question when I was answering her question, she just didn't like the answer! and who asked to talk to the manager to complain about horrible me (I accidentally hung up on her, honestly!)

And, finally, Mr Obnoxious who couldn't wait while people who I'd paged, called to return my page and then flounced off down the escalator.

These people are of the variety all of us booksellers hate. They think the entire fucking store is supposed to revolve around them. When you're busting your ass trying to get whatever insane thing they're requesting, they barely acknowledge you. But put a toe out wrong and they'll rip your throat out. All three of these people were the epitome of Privilege; well off, obviously used to being in charge and completely lacking in the ability to see beyond their own needs. People like this make me hate retail!

However. They aren't all there is in retail or this job. Like today, I had a lady on the phone who doesn't have credit cards, needs a book desperately for her grandchild because someone stole the kid's copy and she doesn't have a computer. So, I called Half Price Books, they didn't have any copies. Then I looked up the book in BN.com used and out of print. $1.99. She was willing to take the bus, ride in, find ME at the counter and thank me profusely for helping her. This woman has more class and dignity than any of the three above described customers. The purchase was less than $7 and worth every penny. She is why I still work in retail and why I actually like it. Even after all the annoying richie mcrudesters who torture me with their presence, sometimes.

Cross posted to bn_booksellers

But really, it's only spam because I thought I'd lost the previous post.

Anyway. I made bagels today! *beam* I followed the directions on the Pamela's Products website (I'm sorry, I sound like a salewoman, but the bread mix is good!) and now I have several chewy and rather tasty gluten free bagels. I have bagel pizzas in the oven. Squee!

Today I made more progress on the book that was advanced to me by a publisher. It's the author's first book and I nearly gave up on it during the first 20 pages. It got better, thank god. Although I keep reading ahead, because his style isn't one that makes me just die to read more. I think I'm spoiled, because the people on my flist write much better stuff in my favorite fandoms. This new author has scads of characters who all sound nearly identical. He spends way too much time explaining the technical stuff. It came to me, as I was falling asleep after a chapter, that it's basically NCIS without good writing or humor.

Day one of working with taped heel is a definite success. Yay!