Yea, well um....

So, not a whole lot of news on the house today. Looks like they have finished the steps leading up to the porch, of course in the nice red "Georgetown" brick, and they have leveled the dirt in the garage area. There is also a bunch of wood that has been left at the site, for I'm assuming the sill plates and whatnot, but what do I know...lol.

I guess I will go into the news I alluded to in a previous post. For those of you who know me and the area where we live, you will understand the news a bit more. If you dont know me or the area, I hope I will be able to properly illustrate the situation. Im not even sure Im allowed to be posting about this, but what the hell. I hope I dont get in trouble or something. Not like the damn rumor hasnt been floating around anyway.

The store where I work is CLOSING. Yes folks, the B. Dalton in the mall will be gone soon. And the sad thing is that it isnt because of anything we did or didnt do, or even because of the Barnes & Noble up the street. ( B&N is the parent company of B.Dalton) We had no control over this situation and only found out that we were going to cease to exist the Wednesday after X-Mas. An X-Mas that was VERY successful for us saleswise among other things. We found this out only a few months after we signed a new lease with the mall, which as you can probably surmise, means this nugget of info came as a bit of a shock to all of us who work there. Our official last day or "operation" is March 18th. (ironically 2 days before my wedding anniversary..figures?!?) We have to vacate the store on the 31st. Crazy ass sales between this Sunday and March 18th...lol.

From what I have been told officially and also unofficially, it was a mall decision. They basically cancelled our lease, which is their option I guess, because there was a store they wanted more than us. Now mind you, we have been in the mall since it opened 16 years ago. But the allure of a "big box retailer" was too great for them, especially since the one that was on our end just opened their new "Super Regal Movie Theater" outside the mall, and left a big gaping hole inside the mall where they once were.

From what we have been told, the mall finally got it's wish and have signed a lease with Dick's Sporting Goods, who they have been trying to get in the mall ever since Montgomery Wards left. So because of this, we get the boot. No more bookstore in the mall. Well, at least not us. The arcade is leaving too, along with After Hours/Smalls Formal Wear and FYE. Well, FYE is moving across the hall and merging with Saturday Matinee after GNC moves to its new location.

All I know is, something doesnt sound right about this whole thing, but then who am I to push the fact and delve deeper into what is happening with this whole thing. I just sell books at the soon to be gone bookstore in the mall. Not really a newsworthy event in the scope of the world, although an event that will in the long run probably impact quite a few people.

So, what does that mean for the employees? Dunno. There are no guarantees that we will get positions at the "big sister" store down the road. They will try really hard to get as many of us in down there as possible, but no one knows for sure either way. If it was up to Steve, the store manager of B&N, it wouldnt be a question of whether or not to do it. He would welcome us all with open arms. But its not up to him sadly, so we are just kinda stuck in limbo until something is figured out. It would definitely be a huge addition to the B&N, experience-wise for sure. Susan-8 years, Cindy-9, Pam-9, me-5, plus two others with less experience. Not too shabby an addition to a store, but who knows?

That wasnt really the type of news you want to find out when you come to the mall on your day off with your family to see Chronicles of Narnia, and decide afterward to stop by your store and go to the bathroom....know what I mean? Especially since you are building a new house and know that there is a real possibility you might not have a job in two months. But oh well, such is life I guess. I keep on moving along and doing my job the best way I know how to. We have a lot of work to accomplish between now and the 18th of March. I guess we just stay focused on that and let the chips fall where they will.

Not a whole lot more we can do.....

On a side note also for those that know me but havent seen me, I got a haircut. Not normally a news worthy event either, but I REALLY got it cut this time. Like REALLY short. Like nothing I have done before. Most people who have seen it really like it and actually say it makes me look younger (???) but I dunno. All I know is I can put on a hat, wear it, then take it off and you cant tell I did. No hair sticking off or anything. It is freaking awesome to be able to "do" my hair in like 3 seconds. Little splash of water and.... whooooosh, Im off and gone....lol.

Looks like 2006 is shaping up to be the Year of Change for me. Wonder what is next......