Just Begun
Holiday zombies… you’ve seen them at all the stores… overworked employees who work crazy hours… bags under their eyes.
And as for Neil Diamond and Johnny Mathis… Dad’s favorite holiday tunes… Happy Birthday, Pops (miss you).
Holiday zombies… you’ve seen them at all the stores… overworked employees who work crazy hours… bags under their eyes.
And as for Neil Diamond and Johnny Mathis… Dad’s favorite holiday tunes… Happy Birthday, Pops (miss you).
I stopped into Utrecht Art Supply in NYC yesterday with the intent of buying a few kneaded erasers. There was about twenty people in line and I thought I just can’t deal with it. Bridget, I love how you are capturing the plight of the art supply retail worker in your strip but since I’m new to the strip I’m wondering where Randie’s and Mouse’s boss is. I would think that they would be stopping in around the holidays at the very least to go into the safe and grab all the cash for deposit?
I’m going to show this one to my son Timothy. He works at See’s Candy in the King of Prussia Mall, one of the largest in the United States. Monday he opened and then worked alone when the second person called out. Then worked late to cover her. He worked the masses all afternoon and evening yesterday – his birthday. He has another long shift today… it goes on and on. Good money, but since he not only helps customers with sales AND stocks all the inventory since he’s the only guy working there AND never get to sit, he’s too tired to spend his well-earned money.
Tomorrow (Friday), though, he gets a break when we belatedly celebrate his 21st birthday with pizza from Baldini’s, followed by the movie “Rustler’s Rhapsody” and the opening and drinking of a bottle of 21 year-old Glenfarclas Single Highland Malt Scotch Whiskey.
Randie and Mouse need a night like that. (Maybe or maybe not together.)
Denny,
See last Saturday http://squidrowcomics.com/?p=2806.
Denny… It may help (to catch you up) to visit the tag cloud at right. The “Artbox” tag will give you some insight into Carol and Randie’s plight at said establishment. We may get a visit from Carol this week’s comics yet (hint).
And kneaded erasers are no match for a line twenty people thick.
Pete… My condolences to your son. That sounds like madness! I hope he gets some notice for his sacrifice to the company store there… and a happy belated birthday to him! Count me on the Scotch… um… well, have him down a glass for me.
Beetle… yup… tanks.
Oh My God–Wally again–one year they had The Barking Dogs programmed in about every fifth song or so–thought I was gonna go crazy! And that was the year we weren’t a 24 hour store yet, Christmas Eve we were shoving people out the door thirty minutes after closing. One customer asked my DM why we were closing so early and he said we would like to spend time with our families too. They really didn’t understand! I think some people have nothing better to do than wander around stores, and can’t figure out that not everyone has that obsession. We must be working there for the fun of it, don’t you know? I know the good customers are always out there, but the idiots seem to outnumber them at times, and holidays are the worst.
And yes, I try to be one of the good customers now! I also tip well at restaurants because I’ve done that too. Walk a mile in my shoes, etc.
Ruth… Empathy is something sadly lacking in our society today. “You work retail… you don’t get a holiday… since you choose to work retail.” Barking Dogs deserves a little sympathy!
I do the same thing, Ruth. Whilst in a line, waiting… I make sure I am smiling and offer kind words…. anything to brighten the clerks day. I’ve been there.
As Bill Murray observed in the most brilliant comedy of its time, What About Bob : “There are two kinds of people in this world–those who like Neil Diamond and those who don’t.”
Pete, I feel for your son.I work in retail as well and I know the madness first hand.
We have lost three people in my department, and today I found out that one of my best employees is leaving as well. That leaves just two employees in my department. And its just getting busier and busier as Christmas approaches. Christmas carols dont help either.