Family in my Home For the Holidays

This Christmas, I told my mother that if she wanted to see me, she’d have to come down here.  I absolutely refuse to go back to Wisconsin in the winter. 

'Tis the Season

I think the economy is hurting everybody this Christmas.  Let’s discuss what I’ve discovered at my bookselling job.  I believe the economy is affecting people’s shower habits.  At least that’s the impression I got this weekend at the bookstore.  While most years, retail employees have cranky customer horror stories, all of mine this year are about smelly customers.  I’d like to investigate this further, to see exactly how it ties into the economy, which I am quite sure is to blame.  I could interview the smelly customers.  I have a rough idea of my questions and the responses I’d get –

Me: Excuse me, sir, are you not showering because the economy has you too depressed to worry about personal hygiene?

Smelly customer one: (unintelligible muttering)

Me: I’m sorry, I can see that this down economy has you too depressed to answer.

Or Me: Ma’am, is your hiatus from showers an effort to save money on your water bill in this down economy?

Smelly customer two: Oh yes!  By not showering for a month, and not letting my children shower, we’ve been able to save enough to buy a Christmas Ham!  And I’ve saved money on sports activities for my children because the other kids don’t want them nearby!

Unfortunately, I’d have to invest in a good gas mask to do this, and I certainly can’t afford one the way the economy is these days.

Things I'm Missing Out On

I was thinking last night the extreme lack of Christmas decorations down here.  I thought it was funny, because everyone in WI hates the cold, but they brave it to put up lights, giant snow globes, Nativity scenes, and much more.  In my apartment complex down here, ONE porch has a SINGLE STRING of lights up.

Lockdown

What a weekend.  This past weekend, I was cashiering by large front windows when I heard the following announcement: “Attention Customers – The police have called and told us that nobody is allowed to enter or exit the store.  Also, for your own safety, please stay away from the windows.”

My Second Job

Right now I am working two jobs, for a total of about 70 paid hours each week.  The part time job is at a large chain bookstore in town.  I absolutely love it –the people I work with are smart and sarcastic and funny and nerdy, just like me!  That and it gives me several stories every shift.

A Bit of Ancient History

My name is Meghan.  I’m a 23 year old, working two jobs to support two cats and a new dog.  I have one sister in Seattle, one step sister in Alaska, and most of the rest of my family is in the Green Bay, WI area.  This includes a slightly neurotic Mother who is just now Empty Nesting 5 years after her youngest child moved out, a nice but standoffish father, and a stepmother who is trying to do her best.