
delivering a radiator in the rain
Since I was last on here in January, my job situation has changed, again, but this time the position is more permanent. I went to work my shift at Dollar Tree on February 8th, did my 7.5 hour shift, drove home, then texted my manager that I was returning to leave my key in her office as the schedule I wanted didn’t align with the schedule she needed me to work, so there was no point in trying to continue to leave one job early to make it to the other.

customers providing a laugh
This gave me more hours with Advance Auto, and my boss did her best to schedule me as much as my part-time position would allow, and some overtime as we worked to get the store I was hired for open. I had been offered a job at Pep Boys that would have given me more hours and more pay, but was turned down over a corporate agreement from the East Coast when Advance Auto bought out the retail side of Pep Boys – a non-compete upheld in a state that doesn’t enforce them.

this is not an example of rockstar parking
This left me bitter, that my higher paying job had to come with disgust and my minimum wage job obviously with disregard. I may not have been as active in the workforce as my peers over the years, but this was no surprise. Cogs in the wheel aren’t allowed to rest, because then they have time to think and be happy and do things differently. I spent my off-time filling out applications for a variety of places that offer customer service interactions until I got an interview.
I left on my lunch break on Saturday and let the owner at SD Barber Supply know that I only had 30 minutes to spare. She appreciated my honesty and offered that I come in for a trial shift to see if selling supplies to professional and amateur barbers would be a good fit for me, and so that I could get some training before the other sales associate left to pursue something else. I agreed to work 11a-5p on Wednesday and it went so well that I put in my two weeks notice with Advance Auto.

when the business next door is cleaning their floors
I was going to work out the rest of my shifts, but why should I work more hours for less money when given the opportunity to reverse those numbers, so I told Advance that I wouldn’t be showing up anymore. After two weeks, of working Tuesday through Saturday at my new job, my boss at Advance Auto asked that I bring in my shirts so she could complete my termination. She had kindly waited for my travel reimbursement to go through before starting it, so I wouldn’t lose out on pay due.

part of the recall for possibly damaged cans
It was on this day that I learned someone else was leaving, but keeping the opportunity to come back and work a shift when available, so I did the same, and kept my shirts. I could use the Monday off to write and spend time with myself, one of my favorite things to do, or I could come in and stand behind a counter while Caleb sits behind a desk. I get along with everyone I work with and having the new location be so much busier keeps me energized throughout the shift.

one of the regulars
These Mondays are only temporary though, as after two months I will be moved to a Monday through Friday schedule, and I’m not sure how long that will last but I’m enjoying having weekends and holidays back to spend time on things I enjoy, and I should keep it that way. My store is split in half, with me working the barber side, and currently having part-time help; and the tattoo side that also has a driver so that supplies can be delivered to shops and offer their artists a place to get their weekly needs.
I have learned about taper and faper blades, gel vs wax vs clay, texturizing powders and color enhancements. There’s a lot that goes into hair these days — designs with different tools, dyes, jewelry, and tons of products — and most of my customers are great, even when there’s a language barrier. There are those few though that feel the need to finger the gel, sniff the powder, splash the aftershave, and attempt to cut their hair at the counter to test the sharpness of the shears.

fancy stickers on repurposed packaging
I know some people look at my job hopping as indecisiveness or perhaps a freedom to explore and I would have to agree. I would also tell my younger self to look for employment that makes me happy, where my boss respects me, and where I’m treated properly as these three jobs with women managers have taught me. One couldn’t respect my schedule, but that’s not in her job description, and she didn’t treat me differently for it. Another didn’t want to lose my skills and work ethic, and I can’t blame her for that with the current employee pool she has to search through.

I do it for the view
These women have asked me to perform tasks, have been there to listen, and given everyone a fair chance after mistakes have been made. Looking at my former employers, of the male persuasion, that was not the case. This is still a problem the military faces, especially with more trans issues and mental illness cases, than training and manning can handle. I struggled with my chain of command after suffering a concussion and instead of them working with me, they pushed me away and out of service.

welcome in
Caleb has gone from turning wrenches in the oil-filled depths at the bottom of ships to filling out paperwork that used to be reserved for police officers because they no longer get paid to appear at crime scenes unless there’s a body of proof, as if all citizens are equipped with defensive weapons, breathalyzers, or blood test kits, though it seems we might all be prepared to lift fingerprints with items found around the house. Many prior crimes are now being dismissed, but I’m not trying to go off topic, though reading some of my earlier posts… it’s what I’m known for.
Anyway, props to Caleb for being able to manage a changing workforce as it’s being imposed from the government and civilian sectors. Twenty years is a long time, unless you live to be a three-hundred year old tree, and the only way to know what it’s like is to live through it. I can’t imagine having the same job for that long, but that’s probably because my parents and grandparents couldn’t do the same. We’re not afraid of commitment, but we appreciate the challenge that comes along with learning new things and the ability to leave when the situation changes.