if I can remember to post that is. I was thinking how I never really do anything exciting to post about, but then I thought back and realized there actually are a lot of things I could have posted about! So we'll see. I wanted to at least remind people I exist as I see there's a party coming up. I hope to attend if all goes to plan, this way maybe as many won't be like..."who the hell are you again?" this way lol.

i've been missing in action a while now I guess. No real reason really, just like everything else. I was doing really well going to the gym regularly and all that fell apart, haven't been for a couple months now!!! Haven't done much of the tons of work I want to get done on my house, and today while watching the Bills game I meant to do some xmas wrapping but to no avail as I was too drawn into watching live fantasy updates....then went drinking. There goes my day off. I need an anti procrastinationist or something...someone to hit me with a taser when I'm being unproductive maybe?

Hell yes. That is all.

Just a quick post to give props to the Buffalo Bills, who have started 4-0 for the first time since 1992 (our second Super Bowl season). There are only 3 other undefeated teams in the league right now, and one plays tonight, so a big deal it is indeed. We're not only ahead of the Patriots in the division but tied for first in the entire league! Now to beat Arizona next week and take a 5-0 record into the bye week. (crosses fingers)

I've always hated Apple, but won't get into that now.
I am writing because I'm cut off from society because my iPhone is FUCKED!!! I open iTunes and it says a new version of iPhone is available, 2.02. So I click to Update. After like 5 minutes it says an unknown error has occured...update not installed. Now it only has an option to Restore, meaning I lose all data. GREAT!!!!! So I angrily choose that option. Well guess what, same deal. Now all I can do with my iPhone is turn it on to a screen that shows a USB cable going into an iTunes logo! wow!

Been seeing stories on TV today about landslides and such around the 219 extension. My question is.....why are we building this road?? It goes nowhere! Roads like this just help sprawl and urban flight progress. In a county that's basically bankrupt, how are we undergoing such a large and useless project? There must be background I'm unfamiliar with.

Second, I hope the NIMBYs are happy that we'll now have an ugly steel frame sitting on the Seneca land downtown for God knows how long. They say it's due to the economy....that's a line of crap, their casinos are faring just fine. They obviously backed down from the court ruling and won't admit it. Prideful bunch. I do believe the city should have made an agreement where the casino would be built without entertainment, hotel operations or restaurants so it could draw people to the area while still offering some benefit to downtown as well, but since the deal was done, let's bring the landmark building and roll the dice. The conservative nature of the people in WNY really pisses me off and it's very obvious how the area became so decayed. I want to run for mayor and kick everyone's ass!!!

So my assistant (who's new to the company, I'm training him up) calls me on my cell last night and quickly asks, "what's our policy on catching shoplifters?" I was caught off-guard since shoplifting is not a problem in my Amherst store..haven't really had to deal with that since my month-long stint at the downtown store. He said he got the plate number and the cops were at the customer's house as we spoke! I said go ahead and tell them you'll press charges.

So today I go into work and find the police report on the desk with an opened bag of Beef Jerky. Yes, the woman stuffed a bag of beef jerky in her purse and ran out. And the cops showed up at her house for it!! I find that extremely hilarious! How embarrassing it must have been for her. Pretty interesting that the Amherst Police actually responded in that manner, I could never get anything done in Florida with a plate number. Guess the cops really are bored there!

Shoplifting is dramatically on the rise lately, particularly the last 2 weeks. As the economy continues to worsen, I'm prepared for it to continue to escalate. I ALWAYS prosecute. I'd do it again for another $4.99 bag of beef jerky, lol. I'm finding more and more empty packages around the store. A couple days ago one of the shift supervisors who works for me saw a lady take a pack of gum out of a 3-pack and stick it in her purse. She brought the remainder of the pack to the register and when the customer went up to pay for her other stuff, she rang up the gum too. "THAT'S NOT MINE!!" she barks...."oh sorry I thought it was since you have the missing pack" "IT WASN'T MEEEE!!!!" and she leaves red-faced.

I take it very personally because it's my JOB. I have inventory once a year and if I don't come in under budget I am disciplined - twice in a row and I am terminated. That's also a major factor in my bonus, and thus stealing from my chain store is stealing from me!! People also like to steal dryer balls.....very odd things people choose to take.

So I think the interview went well. The thing is, being a District Manager, the job requires relocation. There's basically a 25% chance I'd end up in Buffalo but 75% chance I'd end up in one of their other upstate NY markets. And there's a one year training period where I could be in a different market from where I would be after that year. If I WERE offered a position I'd really have to think about it...I mean, I LOVE Buffalo and just moved back here 2 years ago, just bought a house a few months ago! The thing is it would be a $21,000 salary increase and I'd get a company car...then a guaranteed $5000 salary increase each year on top of that for 4 years each, plus bonuses!

I'd have to find someone to rent the house out from me...someone I trust and preferably someone I know so I can stay here when I'm back in town! This way I can drive back into town often....I don't know how the arrangement would work :( I don't really want to sell though as I'd lose major money since I rolled the closing costs into the mortgage and have only made a few payments so far. If I just let the house sit and made payments on it and some tiny apartment wherever I moved, I'd basically be netting no additional money, probably would end up costing me more in fact.

Please share your thoughts!

ok the outdated product drama I thought was behind us is returning again. Cuomo is just hell bent against us and sometime this week an anti-CVS press conference will be held by Mr. Cuomo. We will once again be thrust into the spotlight as murderers of children and the elderly alike, despite last Sunday's Buffalo News article that there is in fact no law on outdated products and in most cases, no health risk, except for baby products and some medicines. But anyway I have been instructed to once again comb the entire store...all 60,000+ SKUs for outdates and am getting no labor hours to do it with. Thanks, Cuomo. When are you up for re-election again? Can't wait. So we will be audited yet again, and if even one outdated product is found, I will be FIRED.

At least I have an interview as a District Manager with ALDI on Wednesday! Hopefully that goes well and I can escape this nightmare!

So I was an absolute insane fan of the Smashing Pumpkins, but not at their prime...I actually got into them when Machina, their last official CD before they broke up (Machina II was later released in vinyl only, as a give-away). Alas, they broke up after the release of Machina so I never got to see them live. They got back together last year (albeit with 2 of 4 original band members) and are touring right now! Of course nowhere near here has been announced yet, but in addition to their 20th anniversary tour in the big cities (NY, Chicago etc), they're doing a tour through small venues in cities they haven't hit in the past. One is Clearwater, FL...near Tampa, an hour and a half or so from Orlando. I called my best friend in Orlando up and I'm flying down for the concert. It may after all be the last chance to see them!! August 20!