welcome to the world of retail, day one.

it wasn't extremely eventful, really. i work in "gear." that encompasses everything from travel luggage, to climbing harnesses, to backpacks and sleeping bags. i'll sell you a knife, a gps, a tent, or some freeze dried button mushroom soup. need a telescope to spy on that girl that does yoga across the way from you? i'm your man.

i get to stand on my feet for 8 hours each day and they pay me roughly 12 cents for each minute that i do that. i get to assist people in their indecision. "are you finding everything all right sir?" or "let me know if you have any questions." little do they know... it's my first day. i can't do squat if you are not finding everything ok, i certainly can't answer your questions.

the people i work with are all quite nice. at least so far. i am on the upper end of the age spectrum, making it somehow more psychologically difficult to accept my current position in this "career." i am untrained, unexperienced, and unenthused. i don't know why the swiss army luggage costs three times more than any other bags we carry, it just does, ok? it's six weeks until the discounts kick in. it's three months until the insurance kicks in. (which, 40% of the cost being mine, cannot be afforded at what they pay me... if i plan to eat consistently)

in order to move into a place of my own, having squatted with josh's dad the past two months, i will need an additional job. this of course means no free time, no net time, no erica time, and no fun time.

one particularly good thing did come out of my first day at work. i got a call for another interview. it's not really what i want to be doing, exactly, but at least i would be able to sit behind the security blanket of a keyboard and monitor. and it pays several dollars more than retail, which will enable me to have a new residence sooner than later.

so, god willing, i won't be around long enough in retail to get you guys all the gear you want at a discount. sorry folks. you can still come visit me though.

i'll be in gear.