Wednesday, February 29, 2012

We're All Hungry; So Let's Eat

Today did not turn out to be a Star Wars experience, but that's okay. I worked at the warehouse and we stayed fairly busy with orders. We must have built fourteen skids by the end of the day, yet everything went smoothly and without any head-butting. Gordon played his guitar some more, and Will and I were occupied with fans and filters. I tried a local Mexican take-out joint that has  been in West Sacramento for years. I forget the name now, but they are at the corner of West Capitol and Harbor. This place was alright with their gooey cheese and greasy beef. Somehow they outlasted a Jimboy's Tacos that had parked next to them for years where a Wienerschnitzel now stands. But enough about junk food. The point is that the little guy can hold out against the bigger giants as long as there is a solid foundation built on something truly good, like a gooey cheesy burrito.
In other news, our Twitter page for the new Sherwin-Williams store is really taking off. In just a few short weeks we have racked up almost seventy followers, which is almost as many as I've acquired in two years. Not a bad start. Even if most of our followers aren't painters, the identity of the store is still being propagated through the web. I have found that the page must be checked frequently as new followers latch on by the day, some of whom send messages that need responses. I actually went canvasing on Tuesday for a short while around the Broadway side of the neighborhood. Anything to plug the store since gallons are moving slow right now. On the up side, there are a thousand places to eat around there; I don't know if I'll ever be able to try them all. So far the Cafe Capricho, Mr. Pickles sandwiches, and Safeway have been my main stops. Safeway kicks down a great deal on Chinese food. $5.49 gets you a plate of fried rice, chow mein, and three heaping scoops of your favorite style entree. It's a good thing I'm cycling to work and back or I would probably be a rolling chub-a-dub by now.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Bike, Fender, Star Wars

Riding the bike is getting easier by the day. It was rough at first and I am still trying to nail down the best route through the downtown grid. It is a fairly smooth ride until I end up near the freeway overpass. Then the fastest and most bike friendly path is subjective depending on the time, day and moment. My legs are coming back again. I hadn't ridden seriously since last July, but my speed is improving. A better seat would probably be a good idea though, since I never seem to be fully comfortable sitting on what feels like a baseball bat.
The days at the store have been very slow. We have met some interesting people and filled a few orders, but we haven't seen anything resembling a busy day. Hopefully that will turn around once we get a real sign on the building. I noticed looking at it from across the street that it didn't have a noticeable "this is a paint store" appearance. Besides the blue banners at the top of the windows, there's not much to visibly alert passers by that we are there. Soon enough I'm sure we'll have something more iconic outside.
Tomorrow and Thursday I'll be working at the warehouse. I haven't been there as much lately because I have worked full forty hour weeks at the store for about the last six weeks. This is the first week in a while that I've been put back on part time hours, so I am a little more available for my second job. Last Friday I dropped in there unexpectedly and sold my old Fender four by ten half stack to Gordon. Most of that day was spent twanging on the house Stratocaster. I was extremely rusty, but after a half hour I started to get some of the old chops back. It felt good to open up the volume on that amp in a room that could take the rumble. We're kicking around the idea of seeing The Phantom Menace in 3D tomorrow. It's been out for a few weeks now and I want to catch it while it's still in theaters. Either way, there is a lot going on in the next few days. Hopefully light sabers will be included.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Back In The Saddle Seat

I finally took my bike in for a tune-up since I am going to be two-wheeling to and from work from now on. I cashed in on a great deal through Groupon. A full works revamp for $37 with a coupon from Rex Cycles on E Street in downtown Sacramento. They did a fantastic job and I had it back in two days post drop-off. On top of the usual tweaks and tightens they upgraded me into some sturdier metal foot pedals. My main gear cable was replaced, as were my brake pads. I also purchased a cable lock so I can park it outside. Of course I couldn't wait to take it for a spin as soon as I brought it home, so I took to the new route bound for the store. Taking my time about it, thirty minutes was all it took. I'm sure I could make it faster than that on an early morning with less traffic, if I were really trying to get there quickly. Nice to know it's about the same time as driving to Rocklin in a car. The savings on gas however is like a raise, or at least a better daily lunch. Gas is headed back to four dollars a gallon again, and I'm dropping out of the motor scene at the perfect time. If not for my warehouse job, I wouldn't need a vehicle at all. I mapped it out, and there is no way I'm riding to Industrial Avenue. That's way too ambitious and there's no good way to get there. At least I am able to minimize my dependence on gas for the most part.

Monday, February 13, 2012

First Day

Today we opened the new store to the public for the first time. It was very quiet at first. We were rather concerned that we might not get any customers, but by late morning we had some visitors. We didn't rake much on our first day but we did better than some Saturdays and Sundays that I've had in the past. Unfortunately the day was mired in technical difficulties. You could say there was some assembly still required. Still we met some friendly people and we were even the beneficiaries of a welcome basket full of baked goodies from a local coffee house called Coffee Works. They were quite neighborly and they found a customer in me. Overall things turned out alright.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Eruption

Today was my first day working with JA. Wednesday will be my last. He has been promoted to fill our Rocklin vacancy and is stepping in as I'm stepping out. I'm hoping the whole shakeup isn't too much of a shock for our regulars but change is inevitable and sudden. I saw the new store this morning and it looks ready to me. L was putting away some final items and doing cleanup. She even got locked out of the office but like a true ninja found a way through the ceiling tiles. In Rocklin business was slow but I enjoyed chatting with the new queso grande. Afterward I took a drive to the Applebee's on Arden Way. It was where we were to have a birthday party for Jake who just turned eleven. The wait was two hours and we just couldn't do it. We met the kids at the local Round Table Pizza at Howe and Arden. The dining was okay but I was just too damned tired to do enjoy the food. My niece and nephew had a good time though and that's what it's all about. Tomorrow morning I'm stopping by the new store to drop off one more box of junk and then it's off to Rocklin for my last Sunday there. It will also be my last shift with BB. I will miss her off the wall laugh, and her mother is my favorite customer. Parting with friends is no fun, but it's all for the better. As Monday draws nearer I find it difficult to think of anything else. The only other thing that gets more attention right now is the uninvited wisdom tooth that has decided to erupt in the left side of my jaw.