melworks

This week I've been covering The Store while Jorg went on vacation. So I've worked, like, a real work week this past week. And it has been frackin' EXHAUSTING. Honestly? How did I do this for 20+ years? People should only have to work three or four days a week, max. That's what I think anyway.

All that said, the Store has been a bit slow this week. We're in the January doldrums now, and we'll probably be lingering here for at least another week before things get back to normal. There was a big, expensive show last weekend at the fair grounds and between that, and people getting credit card bills from Christmas, I don't imagine folks have a lot of extra money lying around for pleasures.

But this too will pass.

I think part of the reason I've been tired this week is because I was trying to cut back on extra sugar. So yesterday and today I fell off the diet bandwagon and I feel much better. So I think I'm just going to stay off the diet and eat whatever the hell I want, within reason. Still doing the low oxalate thing, cause of the kidney stones, but it's been about three or four years since my last one and, fingers crossed, I won't ever have to pass another.

And when today ends, I'm going to go home and sleep for about a day. :D

I'm at the Store and some guy asks to look at a figure. I pull it out and show it to him and he pulls out his phone and starts checking prices online, then tries to lowball me saying it's going for $30 on this one website, blah blah blah. I told him I could go down to a certain point and he immediately countered with a diferent that's still lower than I said I could go.

I mean, the guy is just passing through. He's not a regular customer or anything, so why the hell did he think I was going to bend over backwards and let him have a figure for cost?

I hate fucking people like that.

Jorg's father passed away this week, so I've been watching The Store for him all week. It's hardly an onerous job and I'm happy to help during this difficult time for him. All that said, I'm a bit tired.

Today is Monday the 13th. Where's the horror movie about that? Huh? Huh?!?

Todnight is also the first Full Moon of 2025 and it's the Wolf Moon. Apparently, from an astrological point of view, tonight's moon is meant to have a lot of juju. Dunno.

My friend, Jen, has reported that when he husband went under the knife yesterday, his doctor was shocked and mystified to discover that his heart had apparently healed itself. He was at a complete loss to explain how it could have happened. Jen was very grateful to everyone for the thoughts and prayers.

I went into the Store today to work on the January book project. Jorg and Shadow were there, mucking about, Poor Shadow had an accident in the Store. I keep telling Jorg that Shadow's is getting older and they don't need to be feeding him rich human food. His poor stomach just can't take it.

Got through about 90% of my project. Downpriced over a hundred books. Next, I'll have to work through the stuff in the cabinets.

Still can't shake this damn cold. I feel fine now, but I know that when I wake up tomorrow morning, I'm gonna be snotty all over again. PHeh. I think it might be time to pull out the vodka & OJ.

Today, the weather was back to what passes for normal where I live. I went into The Store and worked with one of the helpers, Tray. We have a pretty goood day and, I suppose Jorg did as well, over at the show. He texted me and said that it was the best single day he'd ever had at a show. Good for him!

When I came home, I saw that my friend, Jen, had updated her Facebook. Her husband is going under the knife tomorrow for emergency surgery. She was asking for prayers, so I will offer up a prayer for them tonight.

I don't usually talk about my spiritual life here, because, honestly, I think some things should be private. That said, I do believe in a higher power and I do believe that they listen to our requests, even if they don't always say 'yes.'

That said, I hope they say 'yes' to the prayers for Jen's husband.

The usual garages that I would go to for automotive stuff are both booked up pretty solidly through the month. Pheh. So, I shall have to postpone the brake inspection for a while and just get my oil changed and headlight fixed. The headlight isn't really an issue except on work days, because by the time I leave it's dark outside.

The atmosphere at The Store was tense today. Jorg was in a bad mood and, as soon as subs were pulled, he left. He payed Ty and was gone. He didn't even say goodbye. Then Ty got into a bad mood because he couldn't find a box to mail something for eBay.

When I'm the coolest, most laid-back person in the place, something is definitely out of whack.

Home now, typing this up and mucking about with the kitties.

I hope tomorrow is better for everyone.

Wow. Has it been that long since I posted?
I guess so.
Okay. So, here we go...

I"m in a new place. Lance, one of the two prospects I seriously considered when I was first looking, contacted me on FB and asked if I would still be interested in renting his room. I said sure, and moved in on the 1st of July.

The rent is okay. $550 a month and that includes all utilities. If there's a downside, it's that I'm living in suburbia with nothing within walking distance. If my car breaks down, I'm pretty much fucked.

But, so far, so goood.

I knew Lance from the Store. He used to be a regular, and his geekiness is evident in his home. There's Star Wars, Harry Potter, Doctor Who, and comics related stuff all over the place. He watches One Piece most nights before he goes to work/bed. And did I mention that he's a cop? Yep. I'm living with the PoPo. LOL.

The room is nice, and I have my own bath. The bedroom's not furnished, but I went out and grabbed an airbed and I'm pretty much good to go. Today I improvised some blackout covers for the window using a black plastic tablecloth and some painter's tape. We'll have to see how it holds up.

My mail continues to vanish into the either, so I've switched my bank stuff to paperless delivery. Eventually, I'm going to notify everybody of my new address (but will NOT be going through the Post Office as those guys are fucking incompetant) and actually have stuff delivered. And, eventually, I'm going to have to go and update my driver's license, AGAIN. Pheh. But I'm waiting until next month before I do that and I'm not going back to the place I went last time. Those people can DIAF.

The Store has been super slow on the last couple of weekends. Not surprising since it's so fucking hot here that no one wants to go outside. Hopefully, things will get back to normal soon.

And that's where I'm at right now.

Oh. And, for some reason, I've been writing a shit tonne of comicporn. Don't ask me why, because I have no fucking idea.

I managed the Store all by myself today. Jorg did not come in. I'm not sure why. He was either working super-late or he was over at his girlfriend's place. In either case, he didn't make it in today, but apparently he can hare off somewhere this afternoon. *eyeroll*

It was a decent day. The weather was nice and I had people in the Store from the moment I opened up until the moment I closed. I got a couple of nice collections in, in exchange for store credit, including a box full of Mezco figures and a very nice Hot Toyz Spider-Man statue.

One of the regulars, Jerry, broke two of his ribs this past week. He was getting his dog from the back yard and slipped down wet stairs. He said he was doing okay, just as long as he doesn't cough or sneeze. He says he sneezed in the grocery store parking lot and fell to his knees. Poor fellow.

After work, I came home and took a bath and fixed some supper, then sat down and prepped Bonaparte for the autumn. I was going to do something creative with him this year, but that didn't happen, so it was back to the tried and true. Ah well.

Today is the last day of Summer, officially. I'm ready for Autumn. Tomorrow night, I'm burning a big pile of sticks in the back yard and sending off my regrets. (This is when you write down the things you regret or want to get rid of and toss them in the fire so they'll go away.) I just hope the weather bloody cooperates or I'm going to be pissed.

And now, I think I'm off to bed.

Today was quiet. We're in the doldrums at the Store, that weird time between the beginning of the school year and the start of the holiday season. The whole week's been slow, apparently, but I'm hoping tomorrow will pick up a bit.

Jorg is taking tomorrow off and going to the beach with his girlfriend. He was planning on taking Shadow with them, but the hotel doesn't accept pets. So, guess who's doggy-sitting tomorrow and Sunday?

I'll have Ashley at the Store with me tomorrow, which is cool. I like Ashley. She's sort of no-nonsense. She had a baby about ten months ago and she and her hubby could use some extra money, so Jorg's having her help out at the Store a couple of days a week.

Ty and I had a discussion about that today. Ty thinks he's going to cut back on his time at the Store so he can focus more on his own stuff. I think a part of it is also money related, but I'm not sure. I don't think there's any animosity on Ty's part toward Jorg, but I know if Ty backs away from the Store Jorg'll take it personally.

The thing about Jorg is that he likes to do fo other people, not just because he's a nice person, but because he likes being influential. I think there's some narcisism in there somewhere, but I'm not really sure.

All I know is that we've got these new people on-board, and that's cool, but if it starts to fuck with my money, then Jorg and I are going to have to have a talk. I'm not going to get shafted because he wants to feel like a bigshot.

And this post went off on a tangent that I didn't expect.

The evening before now I consumed a plentiful bottle of Wine and, perhaps because I did not sup on anything weighty, I fell into my cups. It was a surprise, albeit a pleasant one, but my sleep was not sound. Throughout the night I did toss and turn, waking from dreamless sleep only to struggle to return to Morpheus's gentle arms.
Upon the morn, I rose and dressed and ventured Outside (shudder) and made my way to Ye Olde Comic Shoppe for the day's labor. There, myself and my comrades prepared for the morrow,, for the Day of Free Comics, which attracts a great many persons, some of dubious intellect and morals.
During the events of the day, I discovered that I had been tricked most wickedly by a fellow, who sold us a Transforming Toy that was not as it should have been. That fellow will find himself barred from trading in future, I can assure thee of that!
After the day, I returned to my lodgings after purchasing the night's vittles. My choices, I fear, were not as proper and fine as they should have been, and now I pay for my overindulgence.
Upon the completion of this scribening, I shall hie myself to the bed, where I hope to find quick release, for on the morrow I must rise earlier than usual and embark upon the Day of Sales and Free Comics.
Twill be, I fear, less profitable than Master Jorg hopes.