J.J. Devine's Blog, page 12
May 5, 2018
New day...
Good morning, everyone!!!Our cookout was a success!!! I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see so many people come out and take part in our charity drive :) We've already begun plans for next year's and want to shake things up a bit to keep things interesting :)
We have one week left to go and we've already surpassed our goal and what we made last year :)
I cannot tell you how blessed I feel. So many people have donated, helped out, and just been that reminder that people do still care about others in this world :)
Today is order day and the last order before image. So I have to be super careful to ensure we get all the things we need for our store to be in tip top shape for image. Then Monday evening I will be going in to put some finishing touches on a few things and get the backrooms cleaned up and polished :) as well as the cooler area. Yes, we are a bit picky about how those things look all the time not just image day, but on image day we like things to be bright and shiny even more so :)
We also have one week left of our charity drive. Which we still have all sorts of items we're raffling off :) We even have a couple of dinner and movie baskets put together by a couple of our staff :) Some pretty amazing Reece's packs as well :)
We will be serving food for lunch and even a breakfast this week to finish off our charity drive. If we survive this week, we'll be golden LOL. Between image and charity drive our brains have so much to function around. But we got this :) Not because we're good like that, but because we're crazy enough to handle it LOL.
Our little town needs all the support it can get. So many changes are in the near future. I am truly excited about all of this. See our little corner of the world has been dying away for the last several years and lately things have been happening behind the scenes to turn things around. I'm so thrilled to see this happening. Because our little town is something worth saving. It has charm and could be so beautiful with just a little TLC. I'm thrilled to see new business coming in and I will do whatever it takes to help out in seeing all these changes take place.
Well I guess I should prepare for this work day. There's so much on the agenda this morning.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
May 4, 2018
We're at it again!!!
Good morning, everyone!!! Our store is at it again :) We're doing another cookout today at our store. Food will be served beginning at noon today and will go until the food is gone or we poop out :)
I've already received 7 preorders :) Which makes me very happy.
Yesterday was a super long day but everything we started did get finished :) Today is going to be just as long only starting a few hours earlier for me. I was so fired up at bedtime last night that it took forever to fall asleep. So I'm running on about two hours of rest today :(
I will be glad when image is over. I spent two hours in the cooler and back room yesterday afternoon, with an hour and a half with a helper in the cooler. Four cart loads of trash just from the cooler, but it's done :) Okay, done until Tuesday when we receive a bunch of items we're needing for this sale going on :)
Yeah, delivery day is one hell of a day around our little store.
We have one week left on our charity. I'll be glad when this part is done as well. We enjoy doing it, but man oh man, it seems like we have so much going on right now that at times it is overwhelming. The boss and I have been over the top on edge because it doesn't seem like much is getting done. That can be pretty annoying when it comes right down to it. Then we both start getting bitchy when we think of everything that hasn't gotten done.
I'm off Monday but I can honestly say I will be there working on finishing up things that haven't gotten done over the course of the last week. Image is Wednesday and we are running out of time to get it all done. So, it will be done :) One way or another.
Yesterday went better than Thursday :) thankfully. At least all deliveries were done and some of the rest of the things we need for image got done. If I get done with books early enough today I will be going around the store tagging items we still need to tag. That way Monday can be focused on the cleaning aspect. The outside and inside of the store. Then Tuesday is another delivery day as well as the final push to get things finished up (you know last minute things). Wednesday will just be keeping things organized until after this thing is over :)
Well I guess I should get off of here, now that I got myself raring to go for the day :)
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
I just keep reminding myself Be Positive!!!
Good morning, everyone!!!There are days in life where you just have to keep telling yourself to be positive, keep being positive, oh for crying out loud, where the hell is the positive. Yeah, that was yesterday.
I quit my job twice yesterday, of course I didn't really quit, but man, I was so over yesterday by mid morning and there was still so much going on that well, it had to be done.
I may have gotten another person fired. Not from our store, but from a delivery that we are supposed to get daily which we get randomly, or just when they feel like it. Then basically when asked what was going on and why we hadn't received any in three days, well, I was called a liar and hung up on. Karma though has a way of working itself out, because I was on speaker phone with their big boss when they finally decided to grace our store with their presence.
Then things went downhill from there, but I made it through. There's the positive.
I hate days like that. We have too much going on right now for people not to be doing their jobs, BUT, of course not doing your job is more popular today than doing a good job. Because that is how society is anymore. Usually I just go with the flow, but with so much to be done and then realizing it's not going to get done unless a few select people do it, well, it is disheartening.
Sometimes it is what it is though and you just have to keep plugging away and turn that negative into something positive.
What I can say is at the end of the day, I'm happy with the job I've done. It may make me crazy, like yesterday, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I just wish taking pride in things would you do would come back into fashion. :)
Today is truck day. So things will be high on the mark. We still have a million things to do and we will have a lot to still be done when the day is done, but what I do know is, it will get done and we'll sigh a big sigh of relief when it's over :)
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
May 3, 2018
Sometimes you just need to relax...
Good morning, everyone!!!I took an evening off last night. The boss and I worked our tails off (along with another employee who popped in) yesterday and we still have a million things to do.
So after I did the banking and the shopping after work I decided I wasn't doing anything else last night. My body and brain needed a moment to just be so I heeded it's call.
I sat on my back porch some. Which is what I'm doing this morning :) This is my solitude, my place of peace, my place to just breathe. I stopped peopling for a while and just let the day's work be done.
I even hit the sack very early and ended up getting up an hour late. I can honestly say I needed that rest :)
So today I will begin again. Work until I have to pick up the grandkids. Then come home and get some more things done :) It's supposed to rain all day today so I'll be happy with getting some inside things done today :)
Tomorrow I need to make pasta salad and potato salad again :) and get things prepared for our cookout again on Saturday :) We still have another week of the Charity drive :)
As I sit here this morning, I can hear the thunder rolling across the way. Some rain drops are starting to come down. It is a comforting way to start the morning :) The birds are singing even though its raining. I'm in my comfy porch chair, laptop, and coffee :) This is how mornings are supposed to begin :) Unless you're at the campground :) Then it is sitting outside under the awning, laptop, and coffee :)
Well I guess I should get this day started.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
May 2, 2018
Wow, this week is going by fast...
Good morning, everyone!!!This week has been a whirlwind to say the least. We have so much going on at work that we are meeting ourselves coming and going. Between our regular duties, getting ready for image, and then sales change thrown in there as well, it just seems like the day just gets started and it's over.
I'm proud of myself though. I haven't come home just one day and did nothing since the week started. I've managed to ride my bike every day :) With the new to me dishwasher, my kitchen is always clean :) and I feel completely free with this sunshine we've had each day :)
It's funny how one simple appliance can give you so much freedom. But since this dishwasher arrived, you would not believe how simple it has been to keep up on things around here. I know strange, but it's true. I love the idea of being able to multitask and this allows me to get a few chores out of the way that I would otherwise procrastinate on :)
With the beautiful weather we've been having, I don't feel guilty hitting the pavement on my bike because I still have things to do around the house after a long day at work.
Sure, I still need to run the vacuum, it is shedding season ya know. But, I can live with that :)
Last night I rode my bike to my oldest granddaughter's softball practice, then road over to see my son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters. Had dinner with them. Then has a horrible accident at work where the store flooded. I was going to ride my bike home and get my truck, but decided, why? So I rode up to work, got things done there, and then rode home :) It was a beautiful evening and I enjoyed it so much. Even the mess we had at work was made better by being able to ride my bike and just enjoy the night air flowing through my hair. So stress relieving :)
I wasn't real thrilled with the nonchalant way some of the people handled the day yesterday. In fact, I was pretty ticked off. But, fortunately for them, this daily bike ride has lowered my stress levels a great deal. Otherwise, it would have gotten ugly.
I don't expect more from people than I do myself. However, I do expect people to take things as seriously as I do when it matters. That's part of our job, plain and simple.
After work yesterday I put on a pot of ham and beans for today's special at work. When I got back from the chaos at work I threw in the cornbread muffins :) I can't believe how stress free I felt even after everything that went down.
It was just amazing :)
Sure, I'm a bit tired this morning. I realized I probably should get more than four hours of sleep a night :) Which has been the normal for the last few days, but, it's all good, there's always tonight :)
Today is payday, so after today's sales change and getting things done at work, I will be heading to the bank and the store. Then home to possibly mow the yard and hopefully get in another bike ride this evening :)
I thought it was sort of funny that some people thought my bike riding adventures would be something to make fun of. Only to have other people they were trying to get to make fun of me, say oh my word I love that bike :) Would it have mattered to me if people laughed at me for riding a bike? Nope, not one darn bit. Because number one, it makes me happy to do it. I don't care who laughs about it, I just enjoy the freedom you have riding a bike. The wind blowing across your face. The quiet time of being to yourself after peopling so much. I need this for me. So, no matter who or what people say, I will keep riding as long as this old body can do it :)
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
April 30, 2018
Exploring, a way to refresh the soul...
Good morning, everyone!!!I do look forward to my every other week walk in the woods with my sister. Every time we head out we find new things we hadn't seen before.
This week we checked out all the new growth popping up all over the place. We even took a second walk with one of my sister's books on plants and trees to see if we could identify certain trees and plants. We successfully identified one LOL. But we walked out of there with a lot more to investigate and research.
I also walked out of there with a short story idea :)
During these walks we not only touch base with nature but we also have deep talks. This time was on the recent deaths we'd both experienced.
There is just something about nature and the quiet of a woods that allows perspective to come into play. It proves you can walk the same path over and over and still find new things, you just have to be open to the adventure.
I know for me these walks refresh my spirit and soul. I love being in touch with nature. Looking at the beauty that is just a few feet from the front door.
We walked around the lake. We walked the trails during one walk. We went off the beaten path during the other walk. We looked over our garden spot for the summer. (It will be tilled up next weekend). We set our date up to go get plants and checked out the seedlings my sister already started inside.
Everything revolved around the outdoors and just enjoying the fresh air. My kind of day LOL.
I got home last night, ate supper, and went to bed. Definitely had a good night's sleep after all that walking :)
Something we noticed about being in the woods. It seems warmer there this time of year. The trees block the wind. The valley is lower than anywhere else so the hills shelter you from the elements. It's just a beautiful place where you can set your soul free to just be.
Sometimes we just need those moments in life. Where you can breathe for a little bit.
Well I guess I should start getting around and prepare for this day.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
April 28, 2018
Come on down...
Good morning, everyone!!!It has been a crazy week. I did finish up the flooring in the bathroom with hubby's help :) He cut them to size, I glued them down. It was pretty good team work if I do say so myself.
We ended up taking two truck and trailer loads up to the town dumpster Thursday. He cleaned out a lot of junk he's been wanting to get rid of. Then he and I tackled the shed and got all that stuff out by the curb for next Saturday's pick up :) Our shed now barely has anything past a few old tarps in it :)
We put the bathroom back together with a bit of help from our oldest son who helped hubby get the washer and dryer back in there. Then we brought in a portable closet and small matching dresser and placed them in there. I'm training the cat to eat in a new spot in the bathroom so I can repaint the cabinet area where she would jump up to get to the dryer. With large dogs you have to be inventive on where to feed the cat, otherwise the dogs would always be in the cat dish :)
The oldest son and daughter-in-law came down Thursday evening and brought my little dishwasher, which I am in love with!!! They also loaded up the chest freezer I have that I didn't need anymore and took it to their house.
Last night I made up potato salad and pasta salad for today's Riley's Cookout in the parking lot at work. The oldest son helped me get the grill up there last night so all I have to do is pull it outside and start cooking :)
The sun is beginning to shine and we're at 40 degrees already so I'm hoping for lots of sunshine and warming up in the next few hours before we begin.
If you happen to be in the Jonesboro area, stop on by and grab some lunch. Or dinner if you prefer.
I feel very blessed to be living in the community. The people of this community heard about the cookout and then suddenly we've had so many donations of food for this event we couldn't even believe. Yesterday we even had pulled pork and mac and cheese added to our menu. It is just mind blowing how many people in our community want to see us succeed in this.
Well I guess I should start preparing for my day.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
April 26, 2018
And it continues...
Good morning, everyone!!!I spent my day off yesterday in what started as a spring clean of the bathroom. For the last several years we've lived with the new tile on part of the floor and the old carpet on the other half of the floor. Well, I decided I would repair some of the tiles that had gotten damaged over the course of the last year. Yeah, that turned into, "I could just pull up the carpet and get the other half of the room ready for tile."
Yeah, then it turned into, "You could go ahead and pull those boxes of tile out of the closet you just put them in and go ahead and get them laid down."
So now my washer and dryer and every piece of furniture from the bathroom is sitting in my living room awaiting me to finish up today. Somewhere along the lines I believe I've lost my ever loving mind LOL.
But to say the least, the tile is down other than along the walls which I have to cut the pieces for that today and then start moving stuff back in :) Then finish tossing things out :) and uncluttering the room.
I started out yesterday morning running to the bank, going to the dollar store and grabbing a new cat litter box, and a new broom. Then I came home, made breakfast, and started on the bathroom. I was on a good roll of tossing things that no longer serve us out and organizing the things we were keeping, when it all went to hell.
Hubby has been getting things loaded up for the town clean up from outside so we can take a load or two down to the dumpster today. We burnt down the firepit yesterday to get rid of things we've collected over the course of the winter such as oversized boxes and such. I did toss out a wicker cabinet into that pile from the bathroom :)
I just want a fresh look in there and get things back to normal.
Well I guess if I am going to spend another day off Spring Cleaning I better get started.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
April 24, 2018
Spring cleaning for the soul...
Good morning, everyone!!!Sometimes we just have to spring clean. On the physical plane it is to declutter our homes after a long winter. You know get rid of those things that have built up around the house over the colder days.
Every corner of every room somehow ends up with junk that normally wouldn't be there but with the outside being cold, and living in doors is more prominent you just stick this here and throw that there and tell yourself it will be fine.
The same thing happens with our souls. As we move through day to day of the dark period of the year, we allow ourselves those leisure times where we say, "I'll think about that later." or "I'll work on this another time." or even, "I recognize this within me as something that is no longer useful," but you've been reluctant to let it go seeing as winter is not really a time of letting go but merely a time to access what needs to be let go.
Spring cleaning for me has always been a time of spring cleaning the house and the soul. As I work around the house, moving furniture, throwing things out, and restoring my home. I am also accessing, making decisions, and restoring my soul to a more calm place.
Over the dark period of the year this year I've been given a lot to think about. The biggest aspect I think is no longer being easy to manipulate. Where someone will call me up and suddenly be sweet and nice not because they want to actually know my thoughts and feelings, but because they want something from me.
The other is life can be gone in the blink of an eye. Living our lives waiting on someone else to need you or to want you to be a part of their lives is purely a waste of good time. You can sit idle forever, like that forgotten doll on a shelf waiting to be played with, and that time will never come. All it has done is caused you to put living your life on hold.
So as I spring cleaned the living room, entry way, and kitchen last evening I let my thoughts have free reign and let my emotions run amok while I did so. This frees my soul in the long run and frees up space for happiness, unconditional love, and allows this old girl to breathe in the good after breathing out the bad.
I still have some rooms that need decluttered in my home so I know there are a few areas of my soul hidden away that still need some attention and restoration. So my goal is to begin the declutter process over the course of the next couple of days. I need to be ready to fully walk into this next phase of my life with a free spirit.
Tonight I tackle the bathroom and begin work on my bedroom. The bathroom is my quiet place. My little gem of a place where I get my thoughts and ideas straight on my writing world. Yes, I know that sounds crazy, but I've had some of my best ideas either during a shower or meditative bath. So as I declutter that room and restore it to it's luster, I will also concentrate on my writing world and declutter that aspect of my life.
The bedroom, well, that is my sanctuary. My place of rest, love, and refreshing the soul. So when I get there I will begin thinking of things that have blocked these aspects of life and find the solutions to restore this to my life.
Well I need to get ready to hit the shower. It's been a long 24 hours and I expect today to be another long 24 hours :)
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
April 23, 2018
Two more days...
Good morning, everyone!!!Two more work days left in this nine day stretch. I'm ready for a little break for sure :) I have so much I need to get done around here that I have been putting off. I'm sure it won't all get done but maybe a portion of it will :)
It's been a busy last few weeks preparing for image and getting our charity drive off the ground. Today I've got Manwich for the afternoon meal. I'm hoping at a $1 a sandwich that will help boost our sales :)
Saturday we'll be hosting a cookout for Riley at our store. Then hopefully we'll be able to get in at least one more before the time is up :)
I love new weeks. There is so much opportunity to make the week successful :) Last week I published another short story. This week I hope to get some things done around the house and also get some more edits done on Destiny's Price. I would like to have it ready for publishing in the next few weeks.
I can't just sit around and let life pass me by. I have to be an active participant :) So, my goal for this week is to keep moving and keep pushing forward.
There's one thing I've learned from all the sudden deaths lately. We never know when that last moment in life for us will be. There is always going to be things left to be done, people left to see, and so many dreams left to follow. So living today is the only way to do things as I see it.
Give yourself permission to follow those dreams, to touch base with someone you've been wanting to chat it up with, and live each moment.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
