Meanderings in the Morning

I couldn't sleep anymore. I stayed in bed for an hour but my brain just wouldn't shut down. I tell you that it's unnatural to wake up before 6a on your own. lol

Why such insomnia?

Well, a lot has been going on as usual. The latest drama is just an extension of why I wasn't able to write as much as I used to. It all goes back to the job. You've read my rants before about work -- both teaching and bookselling. Well, most of the drama of the past year has come from the latter.

See, it never seems to end. Just when things start getting on an even and smooth keel, my manager has to pull something else out of her bag of tricks. Only this last one may be the final straw. Last Tuesday she came away from the weekly conference call with the following statement, "Ok, from now on Mike isn't allowed in the store when you're on the clock and you're not allowed over at Patti's store when he's working." (He got transferred to the other store a few weeks ago which seemed to solve problems.) My response? "What?" This came out of the blue. Seems she's gotten some bug up her butt about his presence in the store. I think it stems from the fact that Mike stopped by last month a few more times than usual -- and they happened to be during the day. She acts like we're sneaking around and doing something we're not supposed to do. And that he shows up far more than he really does. When I'm on the clock, he maybe is in there once a week. Big emphasis on that word because most of the time I'm off the clock. But there are exceptions during the weeks where I have a slightly different schedule from the norm.

And every time he stops by, he shops. If I have other customers in the store, I ignore him for them. He's always finding manga to buy or have one of us order for him. And that's just it. . .his visits are not just "personal" in the store. Mike was a customer there long before I started working there. He's been exclusive with us for over a year because of me and out of his feeling of loyalty to the store because everyone (until Jessica) has always given him great customer service. Mike has tried in the past to let her know that he hasn't appreciated the way that she has treated him because she blows him off a lot. She has never seen him as a customer like the rest of us. It's ingrained into our minds in that way because that's how we knew him first. He's not just some extension of me. He's a regular. The fact that we're together now is a secondary point when it comes to the store. Mike adores bookstores and goes into them whenever he finds one. It's one of our biggest connections.

Well, you could say that him not being "able" to come into the store for 32-40 hours a week isn't a big deal but for Mike it is a major problem. He feels that he is being told that he doesn't have the right to do something that is natural for him. He's started writing his own rant on his blog and I'll let you know when he posts it. Mike is livid. I don't think I've ever seen him this angry about something. He has a sense of righteous indignation about him because he sees his rights as being violated. And they are.

This has got to be one of the dumbest arguments ever. I could see his "visits" being a problem if he was just coming in to hang out while I'm there and distracting me from working. Cause yeah, he's really doing that. It's why I have the highest numbers in the store in all area but one (overall total sales amount -- it's the only area Jess is beating me). Cause he's such a distraction. (snort) Oh, and I forgot, he's there because he doesn't have a life and job and that keeps him out of town 75% of his workdays. Give me a freaking break. He doesn't distract or disturb anyone. Not even Jessica. . .well, mostly because she ignores him even when he has questions about stock and ordering or when he's ready to ring out. Oh, oh, and let's not forget how many people he's unofficially helped over in the manga section because he gets babbling with them about stuff. We have a new regular because of Mike (and because Jon and I have continued helping the guy get the books he wants). Heck, we have a new regular because of our combined efforts from a convention we worked on together for another store.

So, yeah, let's keep him from coming in whenever he pleases. Cause that's the way to keep people happy. I'm so stressed right now from this that I'm having some health problems. I so don't need this bullshit. At least I'm losing some more weight. Maybe I should start a new diet plan -- Boss Bullshit Diet -- You eat so much crap at work that you can't possibly hold down real food at home. Yum.