VENTILATION

So my blog from yesterday was very rude. Not to make excuses, but I am trying to quit smoking. I've just finished day #3 and it has not been easy. I'm trying to prepare everything at work because I'm going on a 10-day vacation, I had a big new release Tuesday (thanks to those damn dancing penguins), and I had a changeover today which means that I have to change all the display areas in the store with new stuff. On top of that, I had to be a manager today and give someone a verbal warning. It went o.k., but I'm finding out where my strengths lie really quickly. Speaking of, this is the first job I've ever had that gave me homework-yes, homework! Our district manager was at the weekly manager's meeting on Tuesday to talk to us about the company goals for the new year. One of the biggest of which is to work on store-level training. They want us to actively teach our employees how to do their job, which, if they live up to this goal, would be great because right now this company has shit for a training program. They just throw you into the water and if you don't drown, you're a keeper! Look at me. I have requested some form of training for my new position (preferably at another store with someone in my same position), I've been told I'll be going to another store for that training; however, in 2 days I'm going on vacation. I've been in this position for nearly nine weeks and nothing so far. I have learned a lot, but it's been hit or miss more than anything.

Anyway, back to the homework. The other thing they want to improve is how the management staff works as a team. One of the ways they feel we can do this is for each of us to present our strengths to the group. To do this we have been given a book, Now, Discover Your Strengths. I am familiar with this book. It is a big seller in the business section. It is supposed to help you develop your talents. We are supposed to read it over the next two weeks, take some online survey that helps identify our top 5 strengths and bring those on the 10th to share with everyone. Well damn! I'm still going to be gone. I think I am still going to do it, though. It might be helpful and interesting. It's just weird to have homework for your job. Maybe I'll post my strengths on this blog. We'll see.

I found out what the new Oprah book is today. I don't really care. I'm not a big fan of her's although she does help keep my employed. Actually, it's not so much her that I have a problem with. It's her fans. In my opinion, they are sheep. If Opray (I almost fixed this typo, but thought better of it) says it's good, it's good! I got two words for ya: James and Frey. First she loves the book. Then she doesn't care what they're saying about him, she still supports him. Then she's publicly chastising him and hanging him out to dry. I don't know about you, but I was smelling serious PR going on there. Again, I digress. Her new book is The Road. All I can say is I've read this book and don't read it because Oprah says to, read it because I say to. I'm kidding. Read this book only if you enjoy very bleak stories because that is what this is. It is very good, but it is not happy and sunny. Not that all her books are, I just am not sure if it is an 'Oprah book.' But then she's had some pretty odd choices. Both my parents thought it was hilarious that she put, not one, but three Faulkner stories on the list. I've never read him, but they both said he is not an easy read. BTW-that was her least sold selection to date. We'll see what happens with this one. All I know is that I will be able to say that I read it because it was on several top 10 lists for last year. I read it before all this inevitable hoopla. And I knew it was good before it had that little sticker on the cover.