The Blu Shot

Yesterday JMS went to the doctor's office for the seasonal flu shot. He was such a little man about it. He hugged on his dada and took it. He cried a little bit because it hurt, and he told everyone on the way out of the office that it hurt. The nurses gave him extra stickers and a sucker. The rest of the day he talked about his Blu Shot. This drove his dad crazy and his dada insisted on arguing with him everytime that it was a FLU shot and not a BLU shot.

On a culinary note: we had breaded pork chops last night for dinner. And, this gravy type topping - take 2 Tbsps chicken broth, 2 Tbsps milk, and an 8 oz container of onion/chive cream cheese. It was delicious! I served it with black eyed peas and pasta. Probably a little heavy on the carbs, but it was great.

Retail...

I've had customers ask for my name (in a not so nice way) several times this week so that they could complain to our Headquarters about something that didn't make them happy in our store. The first one happened last Sunday. Our Halloween merchandise marked down and we placed all of the Halloween stuff in one place with a percent off sign hanging over it. The customer found (I'm sure she put it there herself - what?!?, you don't think a customer would do that?....really, they do...and they outright steal stuff too.) ...ok, back tot he story, the customer found a scrabble game siting on the shelf that said, "50% off." When she brought the game to the front registers we told her what the actual price was and she pitched a fit. Then she demanded to see a manager. The department manager was near the location of the Halloween merchandise and agreed to meet her back where she found the game to confirm her claim. He offered her the dillusional price for the game and she bought the game. However, she insisted on (again) pitching a fit at the customer service counter because we didn't initially believe her claim and made her walk all the way to the back of the store. (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?) Then, she asked for my name. Did I mention this was at 8:30 A.M. on a SUNDAY? In my opinion, she needed to get some Church.
The second one happened on Tuesday around lunchtime. Our company policy for a return without a receipt is that you will receive the lowest sale price in last the 90 days as your money back on the transaction. Initially, you say why...I paid full price? Oh...but because you don't have a receipt, how are we to know this? This customer was attempting to return some blue jeans using this same situation. She wouldn't even let me explain the reason why...told me I was being mean, asked for my name, and then told us she wouldn't ever shop in our store again. Um..okay. Have a nice day?
I hope these aren't signs of the coming fourth quarter.

Smoked Sausage Recipe (ready in 20 minutes)

Ingredients:

small chopped onion
1 Tbsp canola oil
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp honey
1 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp Texas Pete Hot Sauce
1 lb smoked sausage

Saute the onion in the oil. While this is cooking, put the other ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk. Poor the sauce into the pan with the cooked onion and oil. Add slices of sausage. Bring this to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes uncovered. Serve over white rice with a side of steamed vegetables. It was "lick the bottom of the bowl" good!

Sorry no pictures.

Happy Halloween

My son told me he wanted to be a Super Hero for Halloween. So...here he is: Dash, the fastest little super hero boy that we know of. :) We put his "fast shoes" on and he raced around the neighborhood for candy.

Weekend Update

On Thursday...I managed to complete the grocery shopping, as I predicted, and I finished my crochet project...as previously posted...and, bonus...I was able to plant the flower bulbs that Kim sent me for my super-early Birthday present. :) She is all over it this year! I was so grateful for the spurt of warmer temperatures. I really was worried that the bulbs would sit in the garage all winter b/c I don't like even the hint of a chill in the air and wouldn't go outside to plant them. But, those worries were for nothing b/c they are hiding outside in the warm dirt now. :) JMS is a super bulb planting helper...anyone need help?

So...Friday...I had to work...minor obstacle to the weekend. Oh, and did I mention that the hubby is sick.

Here it is Saturday...JMS and I crept out of the house around 9am to avoid any unnecessary contact with the germ carrying...grumpy sick man in the house. :) And, we initially set out to run errands...pick up dry cleaning...well, that was the only errand we had to run since I was so efficient on Thursday. So, we went and saw Sesame Street: Elmo Grows Up...live in the downtown arena at 10:30am. We walked up to the ticket window...and the lady says, "I've got two seats, floor level, row B...only $25" um...no thanks....what else do you have? "18 dollar...." um, no thanks...what else do you have?..."12 dollar..." perfect...sold... A $3 box of popcorn and we were set until lunchtime. :) I guess he enjoyed the show. He isn't very fond of oversized costume wearing people. They creeped him out a little when we were at the amusement park too. He did enjoy seeing Abby (the fairy) make herself disappear.

And, last thought before I crash for the night...I started making Yo-Yos. Um...yes I did. Only 2979 to go for that queen size quilt. Haha...who am I kidding?!?

My Latest Crochet Project

When I finished the hats for my dad, I started on a sweater for JMS. I have the front and back almost finished...arms and hood are what remain of that project. But, I decided for the month of October...Breast Cancer Awareness Month, that I'd make a pink blanket for my bosses' mother who is 81 and fighting breast cancer. I read this book about a Prayer Shawl Ministry and the impact they have on the givers as well as the receivers. So, I prayed for her with every stitch and hopefully she'll get better. I finished the blanket today...here it is: The neat thing is that she doesn't know about it!

Nothing New Here

Just wanted to let everyone know we are doing fine here. Just working...and trying to keep healthy. I have today off so that will involve a little grocery shopping and crocheting...and not much else. We will be taking care of the neighbor's cat this weekend...I told my husband this and he gave me the "look" and then I clarified that we'd be going next door and giving the cat food. JMS is excited b/c it is his "friend's" cat. The horse races are going on here in town this month, and we haven't made it yet. If the weather is nice, I might take JMS on Sunday to watch them run a few times. We also have Sesame Street Live at the downtown arena...but it seems a little overpriced to charge 12 dollars for a 2 year old. I'll make my decision on the day of the event...factors: weather, patience with my son, price, how we all are feeling, and our risk factor for H1N1 - considering how many kids we'd be exposed to at this event....hmmm. We probably won't go. :o) And to finish off my paragraph of rambling...last night JMS was wearing underwear with a plastic cloth diaper cover over them (like for when they go swimming). I thought maybe this would help him realize when he wets himself...but at the same time preserve our carpet and furniture. He giggled so hard at the funny noise these plastic pants made...it almost made me laugh and wet my own pants...ok, so who is potty training who, I wondered? But it was really funny to watch him shake his butt and tell me his pants made noises. At this we had to call grandma and let her listen to him laugh. So as we had her on speaker phone he had to turn his back to the phone and shake his little butt at the phone so she could hear...too funny. It was hard to talk to her I was laughing so hard.