Ok! I did some fiddling around and learned how to post a pic using hello. The only thing is I have to change the size of the picture of you click on it. I may figure that out later. I'm going to start a blog so I will have a place to post pictures for stuff like the "26 Things" Look for some new pictures soon!

O&O!!!

oops!!! I meant to put 12/26/04!!! 

My try at using macros. 

Nikki and Alex 

Hi!
Here is an update on life at the Nowak's.

Dave is still doing a lot of out of town work. Sometimes he works Saturdays and sometimes not. We finally got the boat covered for the winter last weekend. This weekend I'm working 2-10:30pm on Friday and Saturday. I work 6am to 2:30pm on Sunday so that gives us a nice evening together. I did get some good news about my schedule for the Sunday after Christmas. Christmas day is the only day Meijer's is closed, and the good news is, the Sunday after, I get to be the opening SC. I'll be working from 5am to 1:30. This means I'll be off work early enough to spend the rest of the day at mom and dad's. That is the day we will be celebrating the Salas Family Christmas. Looks like a good day!

This is my response to Monday Madness! http://mmadness.blogspot.com/
Each question is linked to the person who submitted it to OttO at MM. Check out the links!

1. What's your favorite TV show and why? I don't really have a favorite TV show, but like to watch movies and I'm waiting for the next season of "Judging Amy to appear on TNT.
2. What's your sign? I'm Cancer, the crab.
3. Why is common sense so uncommon? It seems children are not required to think much anymore. They are always being entertained and their lives are so scheduled. When they need to come up with something on their own to do it is difficult.
4. What are 5 (or 10) great things about your life partner? Great things about Dave, my life partner: A. He is thoughtful of others. B. He is a talented carpenter, and always finishes what ever project he starts. C. He is fun to be with. D. He is a perfectionist, and this counteracts my complete lack of organizational skills. E. He is a hard worker and a good provider.
5. Why do you blog? Are you a writer at heart? Is it a passion? Or because it's en vogue? I blog because it is a good way to keep in touch with my family. I am not a writer at heart, and sometimes it is difficult for me to share my feelings and thoughts on a public journal.
6. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? I don't know!
7. Fiction or nonfiction? I enjoy fiction.
8. If you were an animal, which animal would you like to be, and why? A cat. They do what they want all day long and their owners love and care for them no matter what.

Hi!
I thought I'd do a regular post. I really should have a computer in the truck, because I can always think of tons of stuff to write about while I'm driving, but when I get in front of the computer, either the ideas sound stupid, or I can't remember them.

Here's a bit about my job. I spent 22 years being a teacher. I enjoyed that job a lot. Now I'm having trouble finding a teaching job. I'm technically a cashier at the Midland Meijer. I have a big mouth and some might say I'm a pushy person, any way, I've worked there since August of '03. Right away I let them know that simply running a cash register wasn't enough for me, so I was trained at the Lottery counter and on UScan. I am also trained to work at the service desk. All of these positions are in the service department. I also reminded my immediate boss that I am a certified teacher and I really believe I should be allowed to train new cashiers. That was last November. It hasn't happened yet, but she did tell me that a step in that direction was to become a Service Coordinator. Last February I trained for that position. I enjoy doing that too, and it is a good thing because since February, that's what I usually do. However, now the excuse for not becoming a cashier trainer is that they need me to SC. As a Service Coordinator we are responsible to run the schedule. Meijer's has 24 check-out lanes, plus four self serve lanes. On busy days I'm in charge of 20-50 cashiers. We assign the lanes, do audits, make change, collect cash drops, and prepare the store for the next day's business. We also tell the cashiers and baggers when to take breaks and the part timers when they can go home.

I know many of my readers shop at a Meijer in your own neighborhood. Most of the stores have gone through a recent remodel as they prepare to reduce labor costs. The biggest change is the elimination of the baggers, and the check lanes being replaced by a bag and scan system. This will make it easier and more efficient for the cashier to do the bagging. The Midland store will start their remodel in January of '05. It's my understanding we will have more lanes when this is completed. Many of our customers are already complaining about the upcoming change. They have shopped at the Bay City or Saginaw stores and are not really happy with the new system. The reason for the change is the huge influx of Super WalMart stores coming into our areas. It will reduce the cost of labor to have only one person filling each order rather than two. I think if the cashiers are properly trained in the new system, they will be able to do their job quickly and hopefully not squash the bread or bruise the fruit.

Well, this has been a bit of a ramble. I may continue more on this topic or others later.