DO NOT SHOP MARSHALL's

OK, so I usually do not boycott, but my recent experience as a customer of Marshall's deserves a boycott! I went out on a short (so I thought) morning trip to hit some bargains I found in today's sales papers. I first hit Michael's - they had yarn on sale and I was interested in seeing their discounted Halloween and fall specials. I found what I was looking for and quickly moved on to see if I could find any early Christmas gift bargains in Marshall's (next door to Michael's).

Well, upon entering the store I should have seen my first sign. I actually looked at my watch, it really was only 11:30am, and the store had only been open for 1.5 hours, and it was TRASHED! The shoe department had shoes all over the floor, boxes open and spread out, the stuffing on top of the display shoes. It was bad. Well, this spread past the shoes...into the housewares, the clothing...the whole store was upside down. It looked as thought they had a really heavy day of shopping on Saturday, closed the doors at closing time, and didn't do anything to repair the appearance of the merchandise.

Since I was "off duty" I turned my retail critique button off, and attempted to find a few deals. Score...a holiday table runner, matching place mats and napkins; ooh, a few small things I will not mention for it might be some one's gift, and a pair of clearance gym shoes for JMS; no more than an armful of stuff.

I made my way to the front of the store and they had 2 registers open beneath signs that said "Customer Service." (Oxymoron - we will come to learn.) There are two lines forming: 1)Customer returns and 2)Customer purchases. I get in the second line behind two other customers. And wait....and wait...the cashiers worked their way through everyone in the returns line, with no greeting, explanation, or acknowledgement of the rest of us. Then, they take one person from our line, as two more customers jump into the returns line (legit returns, but essentially cut in line - I sound like a grade school kid). Then, they help the two that were in the returns line. Then they take 1 from our line. Again...more customers line up to process returns.

When I got to the front register I said to the girl "Are you really taking returns customers ahead of those of us who are just trying to check out?" She said, "That is the priority." I said, "Well, there are a lot of angry people in that line over there that don't agree." She completely ignored me, quietly processed my purchases, and continued to ignore me...and then had the gall to say "Have a nice day." Are you kidding me??????????

I am not one to call for a manager to complain (because I don't like dealing with these type of complaints) but this was really bad. I decided I'd file a complaint on line because you probably wouldn't have found a manager in that store today who cared.

74 Days until Christmas

Just a friendly reminder. :) Our toy department is filling in for the holidays. We have our riser shelves up and the board games are within two feet of the ceiling. So, I know you love hearing what shoppers are looking for. This week, popular items were: huggable hangers, pet food, pet supplies, coupon organizer, deep fryer, and a flask! Someone was actually looking for a flask. We found one, but it was with our halloween costumes.

The person with questions about the deep fryer was a volunteer for a home that houses AIDS patients. She was trying to furnish the apartments with whatever appliances she could find within her budget. We are in transition for our housewares department and she actually got a rice cooker for 4 dollars. It was missing the power cord, but armed with the manufacturer information she'd be able to get that real easily. I thought that was nice of her to share that information with me.

Motivated to Date Again

So, I want to thank Kim and Craig for dating! I read on your blog that you all went on a date, and it made me want to date too. :) Fortunately, unlike high school, I didn't have to find a guy to "date." The hardest part for me was finding a babysitter. Ha ha, tell a high school kid that one. I called the two babysitters I have here in town, and one was going to work her regular job, and the other was going for sorority initiation (whatever that means...sounds like drinking). Well, then I called my parents. Bingo is now officially over at the church, so they no longer have that Friday night commitment. I struck gold...they were able to come and watch JMS.

So, my husband and I went to dinner and a movie (Nights in Rodanthe). The movie began at 7:20pm and we were home by 9pm. Movie Tavern rocks. You can eat and watch the movie all at the same time. I didn't know my parents had planned on staying the night. Shoot, we would have stayed out longer.

That is okay, though. I cooked them breakfast in the morning, and off they went. We really appreciated you coming to play with JMS! Thank you.

Women who don't work

You are so smart! You have made a decision to eliminate work place stress and not allow others to tell you your worth! Good for you.

For those of us who work...well, we are going to age quicker, die younger, have low self-esteem and rarely see our kids.

Can you tell what kind of week I've had? Shopping will not cure the stress or relieve the emotional pain from comments that I've been hit with this week. Ice cream hasn't helped either. Beer...yep, tried that...and I cut the grass (exercise).

Anyone who really knows me...would you ever classify me as SHY? Just wondering.

82 days and counting

So, the weather is changing and it is very obvious by what customers are buying. The clothing departments looked as though mini-tornadoes passed through Kentucky yesterday via our store. However, despite how badly things looked, sales are definitely up as folks try to make sure that their little ones are covered up and warm at the bus stop.

The other areas that are starting to see attention from our shoppers are the Halloween department, and the toys. I'd recommend starting early...we have our toy department set for the most part, so what you see now is what you'll see in November and December. The domestics departments are set too...you'll find flannel sheets on the end caps now. Need Christmas candles...if you look hard enough you'll find those too.

Did anyone hear about Jumpstart's Read for the Record? Well, the goal was to read the book Corduroy to as many kids as possible on October 2nd, to set a world record. We had volunteers in our store reading to the kids who came in - 16 in total. I guess every little bit helps.

Happy Birthday Peggy!

My sister's 25 today! I'm sorry I didn't send a card or a gift...but hey, I sent an email! Ok, I'm a bum. Sorry.

So, who is ready for Christmas? Anyone start their holiday shopping yet?

84 days until Christmas Day!!!

Ode to an almost 2 year old

Ode...okay, well maybe not an Ode in the true sense of the word, but I liked how that sounded. We discovered side walk chalk today (and graffiti'd the patio/jungle gym/window screens/patio furniture/hot tub), how to take off our diaper during nap time, and that we do like chicken nuggets. We decided that we would fight mommy putting on our clothes today, that we prefer our dinosaur pajamas to our cars tshirt (thanks Kim), and that the dog will wear a hat and like it. We can pick up maple seed helicopters and act like they are the smallest baseball bat in the world (swing, swing), and that rocks fit in our pockets. We will pitch a fit if you tell me to take a nap, bring me in before I'm finished playing, drain the bath before I'm done, and try to change my diaper. I am an almost 2 year old boy.