Vollrath

I have a declaration to make. If I ever write some type of novel, especially a fantasy or something intended for young adults, the antagonist shall be called Vollrath. Or perhaps Vollrathe… an “e” at the end somehow helps the name feel more finished.

But ah, I have yet to tell you where it originated, yes? You see, there’s a contraption in my store I must clean each night when I work in a certain area. It’s a humid environment, the metal of the machine is nearly too hot to touch, and the smell is indescribable in the worst way. Alright, maybe I’m exaggerating … but the scene ain’t pretty. And its name, shouted in bold block letters across the side of its brushed silver canister, is “Vollrath.” Thus, so shall be called my character.

Although I must admit, the name sounds almost plagaristically similar to Voldemort (maybe that’s why its ring is so villainous). Oh well … I like it too much to change my mind now.

Time and Energy

Just a few vaguely related thoughts to share.

One: A coworker shared a thought with me today.  It doesn’t matter where you work or what time your shift is, the last half hour is always the longest or shortest of your day.  Either business is slow so you’re bored and incessantly watching the clock as every second ticks by slower than the last … or the minutes fly by because there’s so much to do you don’t have a spare moment to breathe until someone asks, “Aren’t you supposed to go home?”

Two: I have determined that I am one of those people who cleans as a way to deal with emotions.  If I’m stressed and need to relax, or feeling overwhelmed by the sheer size of my daily to-do list, or just can’t seem to calm my mind, I clean.  Case in point: I spent all day at work, then came home, emptied the clothes dryer, started more laundry, cleaned the toilet and sink, and considered tackling the kitchen before my creative side beat down the clean freak and I headed for the computer.  And thinking about it all now, I need to go check on the laundry.

Three: I need a new watch.  Mine has spent a little too much time in the dish water … it still functions, but the inside is spattered with condensation and it’s driving me insane.   Plus it has the horribly distracting tendency of unclasping itself and falling from my wrist at the most inopportune moments.  Like when my hand is poised over a full sink of dirty dishes.  So now the question is, do I aim for another under $10, nothing-but-the-basics accessory and not worry about it lasting all that long, or do I invest $40ish in a good, water-resistant model with a few more bells and whistles?  I’ve had my current wristwatch for so long I have no idea what to choose

We don’t gamble

Random little story to share. Happened a week or more ago but I don’t care, I’m writing about it anyway. So I work at a large retail store, and right now we have a little blurb that prints at the bottom of probably 60% of the receipts asking the customer to take a survey, and in return be entered into a drawing to win $1000 or some such thing. We’re supposed to encourage the customers to take the surveys because it’s basically a score for us against other stores, how well we’re doing in various aspects like speed and friendliness and all that.

So I was ringing up this older couple, and if I remember correctly, they were buying cat food. Dozens of cans of cat food, and nothing else. Yeah, I’m pretty sure it was the same couple. Anyway, their receipt printed and as I handed it to the gentleman, I mentioned how they could give us feedback about the store through the survey and be entered to win the money. He looked at me with the most somber face, eyes wide, and said in an offended voice, “We don’t gamble.”

What on earth do you say to that? I mean, this guy was dead serious. He acted like I had asked him to stand on his head, not answer a few questions about shopping in my store. And really, who defines entering a contest as a form of gambling? I just don’t get it.