JobbedSunday, December 4, 2005 | 11:43PM |
I’m surprised to say that I enjoy working retail. Oh, I’m working part-time at Best Buy now. Yeah, I guess I forgot to mention that. I went into it thinking that it would just be something to get us through the holidays, but apparently selling cameras and photographic equipment comes naturally to me. Who knew? It just helps to have a pretty extensive knowledge of your product. Whether I’m doing everything the Best Buy Way, I have yet to find out. I had a brief, half-orientation today, but things are frantic because it’s a new store. I’ve understood the basics from Day 2, or as most retailers know it, “Black Friday”. But I just deal with customers the way I would want to be treated. It works out pretty nicely most of the time.
That Friday was also the day I ended up with a 101.7 degree fever. See, the day began (for me) at 3am. I had only gone to bed at 10pm the night before (my fault), but couldn’t really fall asleep all night. Not nerves, but anxiety of what the day would be like with literally no formal training. So work started at 4am, and the store opened to The Crazies at 5am. I hope you weren’t one of those people. I worked 4am-10am, then went home and foolishly watched the UT-A&M game until my second shift began. I then worked 4pm-9pm, at which point Stacy and the in-laws came up to visit me.
For the final few hours of my shift I had a headache (which is rare for me) and I was freezing cold. So when Stacy drove me home, I got straight into bed, bundled up, turned the heater on, took some medicine and slept for an hour and a half. I woke up burning hot and feeling 90% better. My fever had broken and I watched some tv with Stacy before sleeping for the rest of the night. I woke up completely fine the next morning. I really don’t get sick very often, so it was just weird.
I’ve been working on some different photographic projects lately that have the potential to either tie in to one another or diverge fairly significantly. I just haven’t decided which direction I’m going yet. I need to choose one, though, because not only are grad school applications due in the next few months, but Fotofest 2006 is coming up in March, and I have a spot reserved at The Meeting Place. And I don’t want to be showing my Musicians series.
One of the partial projects I’m working on involves my friend, Joe, from when I worked for the state. Joe has downs syndrome and is 45 years old. He’s worked for the House of Representatives for 25 years and is finally retiring at the end of this month. Unfortunately for him, it’s a decision that was made for him, as his memory is failing quite rapidly. Before I had learned of this, however, I decided that I would do a project about him. It’s partially been shot in his amazing house, which is a duplex. His parents (both in their 80s) live on one side, and he used to live with his grandmother on the other side. When she passed away years ago, the house remained decorated the same, as it was in the 1950s. So it’s really like stepping back in time for me when I visit him.
I also spent a day last week shooting Joe up at the Capitol with a borrowed Hasselblad from Bill. It was fun to go around with him again, but it became even more apparent how bad he’s gotten over the past several months. His retirement party was Thursday, and it was neat to see all the people around there that cared about him. And perhaps the coolest part was the board full of photos taken of Joe over the past 25 years at the Capitol. One was with President Bush, when he was Governor. And I’ve seen the many photos of him with past Governors and Speakers. It’s just cool to see the life he’s lived.
I’m thinking about buying the Hasselblad from Bill, but while he wants a fair price for what all would be included, I just don’t know that I could afford it by selling enough of my current equipment. It’s such a nice way of shooting after being tethered to a 4x5.
I love photography.
Comments
Good to hear Black Friday didn’t scar you for life. I’ve heard some horror stories from people working it before. I had to work that day too, but thankfully I work in an electronic dungeon where I never have to deal with people. =)
By the way, I noticed in your photoblog that you mentioned something about a powerbook. I may or may not have purchased a 12” 1.5ghz Powerbook a couple months ago, so if you’d like to check one out in detail, you can stop by next time you’re in SETX and you may or may not be able to see how you like it. The 12” one is smaller, so if screen size is a big deal it might not be right for you, but for school it is a great notebook. Assuming I have purchased one and am making this post using it right now, I am so far loving it.
Assuming I bought one.
Justin | Monday, December 5, 2005 | 10:25AM
Haha… man, I hate you! How can you have a Powerbook before me? Er, I mean, how can you be considering one before me??
Yeah man, we’ll be in the area for Christmas, so of course we’ll be stopping by. Really looking forward to it.
Walker | Monday, December 5, 2005 | 10:52AM
We can’t wait to come see you guys over Christmas…there shall be lots of baby holdin’ going on
Stacy | Monday, December 5, 2005 | 11:05AM
I hear it works great for editing video of Claire last week. So I hear.
Once y’all know what kind of free time you’ll have while in the area let us know. Mostly so we can clean first, heh. But yeah, we’re definitely not going anywhere, so anytime is cool.
Hooray, time for History! I hate school.
Justin | Monday, December 5, 2005 | 11:09AM
Are you suggesting that our home is not an immaculate place of cleanliness all the time?
I just don’t understand how you can suggest that when all we have is a new baby that spits up and /or poops all the time, two parents working full-time, one parent going to school full-time, and the other going to school part-time all done with no babysiter….you’d think we were too busy to worry about cleaning the house!
Jennifer | Monday, December 5, 2005 | 11:56AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WALKER AND COLBY!!!!
Jennifer | Monday, December 5, 2005 | 1:39PM
I may or not be in trouble for the “clean house” comment.
Justin | Monday, December 5, 2005 | 2:59PM
Yes, the happiest of birthdays to you guys.
And Kristin and I need to see Claire…badly. =) Except that I know it will make us want a kid as well.
Just make sure we don’t steal her.
Casey | Monday, December 5, 2005 | 7:45PM
Happy Birthday Walker and Colby!
Glad to hear that y’all are going to be in Orange around Christmas. When are you going to be in town? I am trying to decide when I am coming in. It is weird to have to worry about scheduling time off from work for Christmas.
Jody | Monday, December 5, 2005 | 9:59PM
Thanks everyone. As for our Christmas schedule, it’s still up in the air. The only thing I’m almost (ALMOST) sure of at this point is that we’ll be there Christmas Day. Beyond that, I still have to talk to my manager at work to see what kind of schedule I can make. I’d love to say I’m taking 3 days before and 3 days after Christmas, but apparently they think I’m good at my job or something, and they want me around. Go figure. I’ll keep you all posted, though.
Walker | Monday, December 5, 2005 | 10:19PM
Understood. I am still trying to figure out my schedule as well. With Christmas falling on a Sunday it really makes it difficult to schedule because nothing is closed extra days. I am thinking I will be there the 23rd through the 25th.
Jody | Tuesday, December 6, 2005 | 8:46PM
Which Best Buy do you work?
Nathan Steenport | Monday, December 12, 2005 | 3:04PM
He works at the Georgetown one…probably close to where you live, right?
Stacy | Monday, December 12, 2005 | 4:34PM
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