Friday, February 17, 2012
A Year Later
It has been a year since I posted an update about living here. I got my own car shortly after I posted about January. It is a dark red (maroon) 1996 Mazda 626, for $1,600. It passed the safety inspection, but have number of minor parts that needs to be repaired. My dad took care of those things, except for fixing the axles. He will repair them soon when he's back from his business trip.
Work so far this month are doing well. I learned that there are only two groomers, and the rest of the workers in grooming shop are bathers. It appeared to be case where there are more bath dogs than for grooming dogs. Sounds good to me. The third groomer Erin moved to other town. I was told there will be other third groomer coming back to Petco. I didn't catch the name. Some days are fairly slow, with two or three dogs. One day was overbooked, having two standard poodles, plus two small dogs. It was pretty crazy. At least, I managed things quite well, despite when I become exhausted by the end of the day.
Yesterday, my mom & I went shopping together. I bought some clothes from Goodwill & Plato's Closet. I couldn't wait to wear them next week! (Because I work on Friday and Saturday.) I think I can wear one or two for church on Sunday.
I have been having dreams lately, which I don't mind and love having them. However, the other day, I dreamed where the focus was about causing or inflicting pain, physically & emotionally, to this fellow. The bad guys took away his girlfriend/wife, whom he love dearly, and took away his precious book/journal. Then they spend rest of the time torturing him, making him wishing he wants to die, but wouldn't allow him to. Finally at the end, he managed to escape, hiding among the peacemaker people in town, but the bad guys seems to always make hiding difficult. Before I woke up, he was being tracked down by dogs.
The dream I had this morning are weird and interesting. it's very long so and I didn't take the time to remember them as much as i can. I allow most of them to forget or slip away from my awaking memory. All I know it is something to do with making connection with people, animal, things...as if spreading energy from one to another, as if it's part of a quest or game, to past it on as much as possible.
Ah, I better go now. It is time for me to go to work. HUGS Have a NICE day!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The Day at Petco
March 5, 2011
Today is a regular grooming shift at Petco. I arrived at 11:15 am, and my first dog to groom was scheduled on 1 pm. So I spend two hours doing almost nothing. I sweep now and then. I toss the towels into the dryer and start another load of towels in the washer. The first dog is a lhasa-poo which I think he looked quite cute. I took him straight to the bathtub and get washing. I used sweet pea shampoo and conditioner. I handed-dry him as much as I can then put him away in the cage with two dryers set on the gate. I took the dry towels in and start folding and cutting out the friz part. The second dog came in, which is a black cocker. I bathed him with just shampoo and handed-dry him as much as I can then put him away in the cage with one dryer. I grab the lhasa-poo and set him up on the table and start grooming. The paper said to shaved-down with a #7 blade and do teddybear face with #5. Well, because it have a poodle sort of hair, #4 blade looked better than a #7 because otherwise, you can see the skin. I did the teddybear face bit longer than #5. I was glad that the costumer is happy with it. The cocker was just simple shaved-down with cocker ears and face/head. I spend somewhat too much time on his paws, just trying to make it look neat. I completed my work before 4pm. I was about to sweep up my work, when I was told to go ahead have meal break. So I ate the frozen meal. I learned that the microwave they have are not very good. Had to cook it twice as long, to ensure that nothing was still cold. After the meal break, I learned how to do the closing shift which was filling out couple of paperwork, lock the doors, turn off the lights, and of course making sure the floor are swept up and cages wiped clean. I left little before 6. Not a bad day of work. I discovered that I was scheduled to work on Tuesday and Wednesday at 1 pm. More hours of work for me, yay.
Maggie
Today is a regular grooming shift at Petco. I arrived at 11:15 am, and my first dog to groom was scheduled on 1 pm. So I spend two hours doing almost nothing. I sweep now and then. I toss the towels into the dryer and start another load of towels in the washer. The first dog is a lhasa-poo which I think he looked quite cute. I took him straight to the bathtub and get washing. I used sweet pea shampoo and conditioner. I handed-dry him as much as I can then put him away in the cage with two dryers set on the gate. I took the dry towels in and start folding and cutting out the friz part. The second dog came in, which is a black cocker. I bathed him with just shampoo and handed-dry him as much as I can then put him away in the cage with one dryer. I grab the lhasa-poo and set him up on the table and start grooming. The paper said to shaved-down with a #7 blade and do teddybear face with #5. Well, because it have a poodle sort of hair, #4 blade looked better than a #7 because otherwise, you can see the skin. I did the teddybear face bit longer than #5. I was glad that the costumer is happy with it. The cocker was just simple shaved-down with cocker ears and face/head. I spend somewhat too much time on his paws, just trying to make it look neat. I completed my work before 4pm. I was about to sweep up my work, when I was told to go ahead have meal break. So I ate the frozen meal. I learned that the microwave they have are not very good. Had to cook it twice as long, to ensure that nothing was still cold. After the meal break, I learned how to do the closing shift which was filling out couple of paperwork, lock the doors, turn off the lights, and of course making sure the floor are swept up and cages wiped clean. I left little before 6. Not a bad day of work. I discovered that I was scheduled to work on Tuesday and Wednesday at 1 pm. More hours of work for me, yay.
Maggie
Friday, March 4, 2011
Another Day in March
March 4, 2011
I worked for a short time at Petco today. I arrived on time at 11 am. It was actually kind of overwhelming. I mean, I don't quite feel it that way, but the information I need to become familiar with are quite overwhelming. It is not just about the grooming subjects, but also about interacting with the costumers to help increase the percentages of costumers using Petco products and grooming services. While I do not have a dog to take care of, I tried my best to study the “special services” that groomer offer and it's prices. I tried my best to study how to use the computer system, to fill in costumer's information and so on.
A black chow-chow show up, appearing quite thick with undercoat, and generally matted. He is there to be shaved down, rather than bath & brush, which is fine with me. I took him unto the grooming table and start shaving him down. I wasn't even done with his major part of his body, when Charles, the manager, shows up to discuss with the workers about the “new” system that we will practice, to increase costumer's attendance to Petco.
Finally, I turned my focus on the dog and managed to get all the long fur off of him. Then I put him back in the cage. I cleaned up and did whatever I could around the shop, then asked if I can or should Mike (the bather) do him. Turned out that I can go ahead bath him. I had trouble getting him into the tub because he's old. Jenna, the grooming manager, and I lift him into the tub. The water system was strange. I had to let it run for like 20 seconds because it will come out very hot. So almost every time I 'turn on' the water, I have to let it run “uselessly' til it cools off enough to be use on the dog. Anyways, bathing the shaved-down chow-chow wasn't difficult. I blow dry him as much as I can then I guided him back into the cage. I place two dryer tube on him. I cleaned around the shop, sipping the vanilla coke... 30 mins later, I decided to handed-dry him because who knows how long it would take for me to get him completely shaved-down and looking better, where he has to be done at 4:30. I handed-dry him and then place him unto the table carefully. I did my best to shave him and so on. It was completed before 4 pm.
I enjoyed their varies of 'perfumes' they have to offer. My favorites are 'sweet pea' and um great I forgot what... I'll get back to you when I remember them better. Or I'll write them down.
I will be back to work at Petco 11 am on Saturday till 7:30, or early if I'm done with everything. Goodnight and have a nice weekend! TGIF.
Maggie
I worked for a short time at Petco today. I arrived on time at 11 am. It was actually kind of overwhelming. I mean, I don't quite feel it that way, but the information I need to become familiar with are quite overwhelming. It is not just about the grooming subjects, but also about interacting with the costumers to help increase the percentages of costumers using Petco products and grooming services. While I do not have a dog to take care of, I tried my best to study the “special services” that groomer offer and it's prices. I tried my best to study how to use the computer system, to fill in costumer's information and so on.
A black chow-chow show up, appearing quite thick with undercoat, and generally matted. He is there to be shaved down, rather than bath & brush, which is fine with me. I took him unto the grooming table and start shaving him down. I wasn't even done with his major part of his body, when Charles, the manager, shows up to discuss with the workers about the “new” system that we will practice, to increase costumer's attendance to Petco.
Finally, I turned my focus on the dog and managed to get all the long fur off of him. Then I put him back in the cage. I cleaned up and did whatever I could around the shop, then asked if I can or should Mike (the bather) do him. Turned out that I can go ahead bath him. I had trouble getting him into the tub because he's old. Jenna, the grooming manager, and I lift him into the tub. The water system was strange. I had to let it run for like 20 seconds because it will come out very hot. So almost every time I 'turn on' the water, I have to let it run “uselessly' til it cools off enough to be use on the dog. Anyways, bathing the shaved-down chow-chow wasn't difficult. I blow dry him as much as I can then I guided him back into the cage. I place two dryer tube on him. I cleaned around the shop, sipping the vanilla coke... 30 mins later, I decided to handed-dry him because who knows how long it would take for me to get him completely shaved-down and looking better, where he has to be done at 4:30. I handed-dry him and then place him unto the table carefully. I did my best to shave him and so on. It was completed before 4 pm.
I enjoyed their varies of 'perfumes' they have to offer. My favorites are 'sweet pea' and um great I forgot what... I'll get back to you when I remember them better. Or I'll write them down.
I will be back to work at Petco 11 am on Saturday till 7:30, or early if I'm done with everything. Goodnight and have a nice weekend! TGIF.
Maggie
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
First Day of March
Today is the first day of March of 2011.
Many good things has happened today. I got up little after 9 am, fiddling around with my iPhone, to chat with few people and listening to techno music. Then eventually I changed my clothes and did some reading: the Book of Mormon and Ensign. I wrote a brief journal on the Daily Devotion notebook. Then finally I went down stairs for lunch. I made myself a simple meal: melted cheese tortilla, dipping in homemade salsa, plus the Cola Coke drink. After making sure I have everything that are needed, I left the house. I drove my dad's red car to nearest Portland Community College (PCC), a small campus. It was drizzling with rain lightly, but I kept my hood up anyways. After asking where the test room located, I entered hesitantly and find that the lab room are full. I was told to wait for the available seating. Before I get comfortable playing the bejeweled game on my iPhone, I was lead into a different lab classroom and be seated before the desktop computer. The blank paper, sharp pencil and a calculator are provided. I logged into the test program with my username and password. With a deep breathe, I began. I completed the three parts of the test in two hours. I spend one hour during the writing test, about 40 minutes during the reading test, and 20 minutes during the math test. By the time I finally figured out how to use the calculator, it was too late. I returned to the test area, and get to be able to see the scores. Writing Skills score: 89. Reading score: 88. Math score: 33. I do not need any reading classes. A higher level of writing class are required. And of course, math classes are required. However, I do not signed up into this college to get a degree. I signed up for personal interest, to have one class to enjoy. I do not want to be a full time student. I am considering to have a Psychology class than to have a writing class. I got most of the things taken care of. Some I can do it myself at home online. I emailed the Psychology teacher for permission to take her class so I can be allowed to registered into PCC.
I stopped by Petco yesterday to require the manager to find out if there are any luck for me to be working there. I met a lady who's a manager as well, a manager assistant I assumed. I was told to wait for a bit for Charles, who is the head manager of Petco. I wandered around the store, read a book about Chihuahua. My young dog Frodo is mixed closely to Chihuahua type of breed. She finally came to me and asked me to return to Petco on Wednesday at 1 pm to do some paperwork and take care of something on the computer program. We shook hands and went our ways. On the way to exit, I was partly blocked by a man, who was looking at the box of plastic cage. Because I was in a good mood, I said a friendly hello. He was looking because he have a mouse at home, with a cat, and two little dogs. We had an idle but polite conversations, then finally I left.
Tomorrow will be a busy day for me. I have counseling at 9:15am in Portland. Visiting teaching at 10:45am at Arby's near 205 highway. Petco at 1:00pm for paperwork,to become officially employed. About time! Now it is after 10 pm, and I better type no more for the night and get some beauty sleep. Goodnight!
-Maggie Holt
Many good things has happened today. I got up little after 9 am, fiddling around with my iPhone, to chat with few people and listening to techno music. Then eventually I changed my clothes and did some reading: the Book of Mormon and Ensign. I wrote a brief journal on the Daily Devotion notebook. Then finally I went down stairs for lunch. I made myself a simple meal: melted cheese tortilla, dipping in homemade salsa, plus the Cola Coke drink. After making sure I have everything that are needed, I left the house. I drove my dad's red car to nearest Portland Community College (PCC), a small campus. It was drizzling with rain lightly, but I kept my hood up anyways. After asking where the test room located, I entered hesitantly and find that the lab room are full. I was told to wait for the available seating. Before I get comfortable playing the bejeweled game on my iPhone, I was lead into a different lab classroom and be seated before the desktop computer. The blank paper, sharp pencil and a calculator are provided. I logged into the test program with my username and password. With a deep breathe, I began. I completed the three parts of the test in two hours. I spend one hour during the writing test, about 40 minutes during the reading test, and 20 minutes during the math test. By the time I finally figured out how to use the calculator, it was too late. I returned to the test area, and get to be able to see the scores. Writing Skills score: 89. Reading score: 88. Math score: 33. I do not need any reading classes. A higher level of writing class are required. And of course, math classes are required. However, I do not signed up into this college to get a degree. I signed up for personal interest, to have one class to enjoy. I do not want to be a full time student. I am considering to have a Psychology class than to have a writing class. I got most of the things taken care of. Some I can do it myself at home online. I emailed the Psychology teacher for permission to take her class so I can be allowed to registered into PCC.
I stopped by Petco yesterday to require the manager to find out if there are any luck for me to be working there. I met a lady who's a manager as well, a manager assistant I assumed. I was told to wait for a bit for Charles, who is the head manager of Petco. I wandered around the store, read a book about Chihuahua. My young dog Frodo is mixed closely to Chihuahua type of breed. She finally came to me and asked me to return to Petco on Wednesday at 1 pm to do some paperwork and take care of something on the computer program. We shook hands and went our ways. On the way to exit, I was partly blocked by a man, who was looking at the box of plastic cage. Because I was in a good mood, I said a friendly hello. He was looking because he have a mouse at home, with a cat, and two little dogs. We had an idle but polite conversations, then finally I left.
Tomorrow will be a busy day for me. I have counseling at 9:15am in Portland. Visiting teaching at 10:45am at Arby's near 205 highway. Petco at 1:00pm for paperwork,to become officially employed. About time! Now it is after 10 pm, and I better type no more for the night and get some beauty sleep. Goodnight!
-Maggie Holt
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