Desert View - Day 12 - Routine behavior

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5:45 am - Monday - November 20th - Grand Canyon - 25º F, humidity 31%, wind 2 mph out of the east....partly cloudy with a forecast high of 59º F......beginning Tuesday the highs will be back into the 60's for the next week......every day in the 60's at this time of year is a blessing.....no rain, or snow in the forecast for the next two weeks.

Sunday was another gorgeous day.....clear blue skies from horizon to horizon, no wind, and it felt quite a bit warmer than Saturday.  It was almost painful to be outside Saturday, but not so much Sunday.  I spent quite a bit of time on my blog Sunday morning describing my efforts to fix the air leak I wrote about.....I was deep in thought when I looked at the clock to see it was already 6:50 am, and I had to be on my way walking to work by 7:15 am.....I hadn't eaten breakfast yet, and still hadn't finished my post, so I had to kick it into high gear.  Amazingly I was on my way walking by 7:15, but I don't like to rush around like that so today (Monday) I will endeavor to be more disciplined!

I'm beginning to like the early shift (7:30 am to 12:30 pm) except for the getting up at 5:30 am part.......obviously, it is still dark at that time, and it goes without saying I prefer to wake up with the sun coming in the bedroom windows.  What I do like is getting home before 1 pm every work day.....I have the whole afternoon ahead of me to do as much, or as little as I wish.

Sunday at the General Store began slowly, which is typical of most mornings this time of year.  After counting in my cash drawer, and doing the required morning duties of a cashier (check cooler/freezer temps, turn on lights, sweep if necessary, clean glass if necessary, etc.) I spent about an hour 'merchandising'.  I've used that term a few times since we arrived here at Desert View and it occurs to me some may not know what I mean.  Basically, merchandising means going around the store and straightening the product on the shelves, pulling product forward on hooks, or on the shelves, checking tags to be sure the product under the tag reflects what is on the tag, etc.  It also involves straightening up all the t-shirts/sweatshirts on hangars to make sure they are hanging straight, and refolding the same if they are on the shelves, or re-zipping the zippers if they have been left down by customers.  There are typically only two of us on the floor first thing in the morning......a cashier (moi), and whoever is on duty in the Deli, so it is very quiet until customers begin to grace our store.

Once we begin to get customers in the store then I stay closer to my register, and when things get slow go back to merchandising in the areas closer to my station.  I enjoy talking and joking with the customers......most are talkative and excited about being at the GC, but there are always some who wish to interact as little a possible....they are few, and far in between.

The other thing I like about the 'open' shift is that it seems to go by much more quickly for me than the 'close' shift.....TLE seems to like the 'close' shift so far.  The afternoon shift does tend to be the busiest with many more customers frequenting the General Store after 12 pm.  So far I walk to and from work, and TLE uses the car, but no doubt the time will come when inclement weather will dictate less walking, and more driving for both of us.

TLE arrived for duty about 11:55 am, and by 12:40 I was on my way home for the afternoon.....

Walking home from work Sunday

......I know I have said this before, but I really like walking to and from work here, and I love the feeling of remoteness......no traffic signals, no traffic jams, and no crowds like Yellowstone.....I think we ended up in a good place for the winter.

I spent some time moving a few things around in the trailer, eventually did my workout routine about 3 pm.....this is the 5th day in a row for me, and it has been a long time since I have been able to do that.  That is the final thing I love about working 5-5.5 hour shifts.....I have time to exercise, and the older I get the more important consistent exercise is.  The more consistently I exercise the fewer aches and pains I experience, plus I sleep much better at night.  Exercise also has the benefit of releasing endorphins into your system which increases your sense of well being.

TLE was home again by 5:45 and we settled quickly into an evening of watching the final episodes of Mad Men's 7th season.  Another day lived well......ahhh, finished with my post and it is only 6:32 am......much better!

Thanks for stopping by!

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