So You Are In The Know

Today, I had two conversations about the device to the right. Neither person knew what I was talking about. I thought I'd share with you so that on Nov. 30th you would be in the know.

It is Nook. The management team at the Barnes and Noble where I work is adamant that it is simply "Nook." (To be fair, this is coming from corporate.) It is not a Nook or the Nook, just Nook.

Nook is an e-reader. It's a bit like the Kindle from Amazon. (But the people I talked to today didn't know about that either.) Basically, you wirelessly download books and read them on Nook. It's got a touch screen, nifty covers, over a million titles available, and you can even loan your ebook to other people who have Nook! Sorry, all of that beats Kindle.

It's been interesting listening to the buzz it has created. It doesn't debut in stores until Nov. 30th! Demand has outstripped all expectations without people even having a demo to play with in the stores. (The BN store I work at is leading the district in pre-orders.) On Saturday, I had a chance to pre-order it for a customer. I was a bit nervous. I wanted to make sure I did it all correctly!

I'm sure it is the wave of the future. I'm looking forward to seeing one, though it may take a bit for me to actually get one. Nook isn't in the budget at the moment. (No employee discount -- bummer!) Still, I am curious.

You can check it out at BN.com (click the picture -- it's a live link) or go into a store and any bookseller can tell you all about it. Either way, just tell them Amy sent you. Or not. They won't have a clue who I am. (But in case any BN management or corporate types are reading -- notice that I'm talking about it at my day job and not just in store and I'm even talking about it on the web!)

Now, you know. Nook is coming and you even know how to talk about it -- simply Nook.

I bet it makes it in the newest version of the dictionary next year.

Just an Observation

I worked today at Barnes and Noble doing customer service. A little boy about 5 or 6 came up to the desk and asked us to page his mom since he couldn't find her. (Unfortunately, this is a common thing. People think the store is safe since it is a bookstore and let their children browse in totally different sections of the store. Don't get me started on this....) While we were waiting for his mom to show up, David and I engaged him in a conversation.

"What do you want to be when you grow up? President?"

Giggle.

"I know -- a baseball player."

He shook his head.

"Let me think. Hmm. I'm thinking you want to be a Jedi Master."

Big eyes. "Yeah!" He pretended to hold a light saber.

"How do you think I knew that? Think I'm psychic?"

"You READ MY MIND!"

"Nope." I winked at him. "I read your shirt. It's got Star Wars all over it."

I tend to have difficulty with small talk -- unless it is with small children. But the interaction today got me thinking. Maybe the key is observation. Even adults give us clues as to what they are interested in. So, maybe tomorrow will be an observation day.

20 Questions

Tonight was crazy busy at the bookstore. It was nonstop. I was cashiering. Part of the cashiering is what I "lovingly" refer to as 20 Questions:

• Will you be saving ___ (10, 20 or 40%) with your membership today?
• Have you heard about the benefits of being a member?
• Will you be needing any gift cards?
• Are you shopping with _________ (fill in the name of the school having a book fair).
• Do you have any coupons?
• Will you need gift receipts?
  
• Would you like to get coupons via email?
• (Just for the holiday) Would you like to donate a book for Book Showers for Literacy? All of the books go to needy children in McLean County.

So, a woman walked up and before I could even greet her said, "No, No, No, and No." It didn't take a genius to know that she had played 20 questions with us before. I'm not sure what possessed me, but without missing a beat I replied, "But do you like hot chocolate?"


She looked surprised and then smiled and said, "Yes."

We both laughed and I said, "I just needed to hear one 'Yes'."

Did she donate or get a membership or any of the other things? No. But she probably will remember it as a positive experience because I respected the "No" but engaged her in a different way. We both got a smile from that.

40 to 40 (Gratitude 22)

I never imagined myself in a government job or doing much in retail. But that is what I am doing at the moment -- working with mortgages and deeds and books. (Well, the book part comes naturally.)

While I never imagined this employment scenario, I can say that in today's struggling economy I am blessed with not just one, but two jobs. And I enjoy the people I work with.

So, thank you, God for providing for me even if it isn't in a way I ever anticipated.

The Review -- Hope Chronicles 68

I knew they were coming. I just didn't know when. I guess every October everyone at Barnes and Noble gets reviewed. Two of the managers told a group of us at customer service last night that they would be happening. Uggh. My first thought was that if it was going to make me cry, we had best leave mine for the end.

I suppose that yesterday's post on perfection prepared me a bit. I reminded myself that I didn't have to get a perfect score (an "exceeds standards" in my mind). One of the other managers had told me someone has to do something truly exceptional to get one of those.

My 4.0 personality didn't like that idea, but reading everyone's posts from yesterday helped me keep it in perspective. I didn't get any "exceeds standards" but I did get lots of great written out feedback like the fact that way back last Dec. 29th a customer called in to compliment the service I had given her, and another customer had said, "Amy treated me great" or that I come in when needed and respond quickly to pages for help in certain areas. So, over all it was pretty positive. There are things I need to work on to make better, but everything "met the standards."

After getting reviewed that way, knowing that they actually track the "kudos" we get from customers and other employees, it tells me that they are really watching -- not in an weird way but lots of things I did without thinking got noticed and I had forgotten about them

So, I got reviewed last night. My question today is, if I sat down with God today, what would His review say? Would it say that I helped a homeless man or gave to Compassion International? Would it say that I am sometimes petty and that I'm easily hurt? I don't want to know my life time score of consistency in my time with Him. (I try, but . . . .). Would it talk about the times I shared about my faith and the times I didn't follow the prompting?

Scripture tells us that we will have to give an account for every word we say. In the NIV in Matthew 12:36 it says "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken." Wow. I should really bite my tongue more.

I have hope however that in such a review at the bottom it would say "Loves Jesus. Not quite there yet but striving to be like Him. Dearly loved by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." And everything else would fall away.

I still need to work, talk, act, as if that holy review is coming, but there doesn't need to be any trepidation because I know that my heart is tenderly held in the Father's hands. He knows I will mess up and "not meet standards" at some points, but the bigger thing is my relationship with HIM. What a hope that is!

What would your review say? When you got to that last question about your relationship with Jesus, what would it say?

Regular Programing Interrupted

If I could list the top things people across the board would say about me, they would be reliable, responsible, dependable. A bit of theme, huh? Viewers in the area have recently seen this message flash across the screen of my life: Regular programing interrupted due to major and recurrent power outages. Please check back later.

Sunday I turned my phone off for church. Monday night I realized I hadn't flipped it back on. So, I check my messages. There were three messages from Barnes & Noble. They went like this:

1. Amy, this is Ryan. We had you scheduled for tonight. Just checking to see if you were on your way in.
2. Amy, this is Ryan. We haven't heard from you. You were suppose to work tonight. Wondering if you are okay.
3. Amy, this is Todd. We had you scheduled to work yesterday and it's not like you to miss. Please give us a call to let us know you are okay.

Work. What? Utter panic and shame.

So, yes, I was suppose to work Sunday night. Apparently, I skipped that when I wrote down my schedule. I typically work one evening during the week and Saturday night. That is not an excuse. I messed up.

Unfortunately, my brain seems to be having major and recurrent power outages. I recently had to see my doctor about something. I had seen her a week or so before and this was a follow up. I was convinced that she had given me a prescription. I had jotted myself notes but I couldn't find a prescription where I usually stow those things and it wasn't in the notes I had jotted. But I was embarrassed to think I had lost it, so I didn't call the office. I hunted and waited and hunted and waited.

At my last visit, I had to fess up as I was sure she would ask me about it. I had it wrong. All that hunting was for naught. We had discussed the possibility of a prescription depending on how things had gone. Uggh.

And then there was that time a few weeks ago. My friend Jill's two sons were putting on a concert. I got invited and Jill said, "Why don't you just come for dinner right before too." I should have been there just after 6:00. At 7:15 Jill calls wondering where I'm at. It took a few moments for it all to register and come back. But I made it to the concert and ate S'mores afterwards with them. Chocolate is good for those kinds of things.

Last night, I had to go back into B&N for the first time since missing. I REALLY dreaded it. We are talking major anxiety. So, I had returned Todd's call on Monday night and apologized, but I was still nervous.

When I make a mistake -- and even when I don't make a mistake -- I tend to over apologize. I prayed about it and decided the best thing was to face it head on but determined to not go on and on about it in my usual style. The first person I saw was Ryan. "Ryan, I am so sorry. I totally missed it on the schedule. I had my phone turned off. I'm really sorry. I know there isn't a lot of padding in the scheduling." He was very kind and reiterated that they were concerned because I was so responsible.

The next person I saw was Mary, our general manager. Again, I apologized twice and totally owned it. She said that it happens to everyone once or twice, not to make a habit of it, and that they were concerned.

My brain just seems to be all over the place the last few weeks. Please pray for a return to the normal programming. I much prefer it. In lieu of that, I'm writing everything down and triple checking it.

PS. Taking a break from the blog the last day or so was not part of the power outage. It was more of a conviction of how much time I let blog hopping and blogging consume. I love the relationships, the information, and the encouragement. But it was a reality check of sorts for me. It was good to spend a little extra time with God and a few other things. I think I have a bit more perspective on it. But, I am dying to hop all over and say, "Hi' and see what you are up to. So, hopefully, I will be visiting you soon!

Seriously, God Left Me a Note -- Hope Chronicles 54

One of the perks of working at Barnes and Noble is meeting lots of neat people. Since they have come into a bookstore, we often have a similar love for books. One of the drawbacks is that people you have known at previous times and previous life situations sometimes pop up. (The background you need here is that I've volunteered and worked in social service for numerous years.)

Needless to say, someone from a previous life situation showed up the other night. Sigh. They totally stared at me. At first I thought they were trying to place me and I decided to hide behind a stack of books I was reshelving. I knew I hadn't been their favorite person in the past. As recognition dawned, her face hardened even more.

Since I was working customer service, I decided it was as good a time as any to take my break. I called and got permission and hid in the break room. But the uneasiness lingered. It wasn't that I thought they would do anything or necessarily say anything, but I like being liked. I tried my best with the families I worked with, but social service is an occupation fraught with awkward and challenging situations.

Add to that it was late and we were busy and I was tired. I felt my self confidence level begin to drop. All too soon, I had to get back on the floor.

Recently, I went to She Speaks. It was an incredible time and did wonders for my confidence level on an interpersonal as well as a faith level. Lysa Terkeurst commented to me that I had blossomed over the Internet the last few months. Blossomed. What a nice word.

I started putting the table in front of customer service back to rights. My eyes fell on the words, "Amy Bloom Away." I did a double take. I read it again. It took reading it three times to realize the author's name was Amy Bloom and the title was Away.

I haven't a clue if this a good read or not, but it seemed to me that God left me a note. I had to chuckle for all the times I've thought, "Please God, just tuck a note under my pillow. It would help so much." While it was sweet to hear it from Lysa and in various other ways from other people, I found those three words utterly confirming and encouraging.

As I've worked on these Hope Chronicles, I've discovered that God speaks in everyday things more frequently than I have ever imagined. I suppose the question all these years is if I've been tuned to the right frequency.

I found great hope in having God write that note to me. Though the author and publisher may think differently, I have no doubt that God knew one night I would need the reminder.

In what way has God spoken to you lately? If you want you can leave a comment or click on Mr. Linky and post about it on your blog. Either way, I'd love to hear!

2 Words to Change Lives

One of the most positive things about working at the Barnes and Noble has been the people. I do not know if it is B&N culture wide, but in my store, there is a consistent demonstration of appreciation. "Thank you for getting up to cash-wrap so quickly." "Thank you for jumping in and helping Peggy with that cart." "Thank you for coming in when you weren't scheduled . . . ."

I have never been thanked so often for doing my job! It's what they pay me for. But thank you has a way of changing our perspective and in turn our lives.

I've generally been polite and said "Thank you." But now I notice myself doing it more and more -- particularly with people who may not get thanked. The other day I was at Meijer. One of the cashiers had been very helpful on something. I stood in line at customer service to tell the manager. In some ways it wasn't a big deal, but the manager noticed that I stood in line to tell him. He said, "Usually, the only time people come here is to complain."

On Monday I called Barnes and Noble's main office. I told them I just wanted to let them know how much I appreciated the "Thank you's" from all the managers and what a good working experience it has been because of it. They said they would pass it on to the regional person. Last night I ran in to grab a card and Mary (general manager) expressed her appreciation that I had called someone and told them that. Like the person above, she said they usually only hear something if it is negative. I told her that I could have just let her know, but I wanted someone bigger to know what a great job they were doing.

Many of us will be traveling the today or tomorrow and home again on Sunday for She Speaks. Travel stresses me and I get impatient. But I am going to remember how much thank you has meant to me and look for people to appreciate. I think it might change my whole travel experience!

Will you join me in the quest for showing appreciation even if someone is just doing their job?

Recovery

I have never been what one might call organized. I envy people who are. Still, Lysa said that any of us could participate and I can't resist even if it is slightly embarrassing! So, I'm participating in the swap and hop.

Not being organized was learned at a young age, so it is a very hard habit to break. My mom would say, "Clean your room." At 10, I interpreted this as "Put everything under your bed." My mom never thought to look there, so I never got in any trouble for it.

It has caused more stress as I've gotten older and had to deal with adult things rather than the box of collected rocks, dolls, yarn, and other odds and ends. I spend a good deal of time looking for things. While I am trying to get better at this, it isn't going so well.

I've been working at Barnes and Noble as a sub. I started there over the holidays to pay for Christmas. The one idea I've gotten from them is RECOVERY. Everyone who works there typically hates it, but I think it has it's merits. It happens periodically through out the day, but more intensely at night the hour before the store closes and the half hour or so after the store closes. Basically, it is thoughtfully helping all the books find their homes again. Here is how it goes:

• The store is broken into zones. Everyone gets a zone to concentrate on.
  


• Everything has a home.
  


• You carry a PDT (little computer) and scan the books without homes to find where they go.



• Said books get put in their proper places.



• To really do a good job, you actually run your hand along each shelf of books and straighten them. If there are big gaps, you face some books out. (Especially your favorite authors that you might know!) Authors don't pay for this like they do space in the front of the store. It's all up to the bookseller.

I need to apply these principles at home. If I did, it would look like this:

• Everything has a home



• Do a zone or room a day

This is what my life actually looks like:

When company comes I use boxes and bags to get that into:

And then the table looks like this:

I had to do this today because I have a friend's two boys coming for the weekend. Jill is speaking at Hearts at Home. (Please pray for that.) My annual contribution is keeping her kids for her. Hence the cookies.

I've had it suggested before that when I bake, I should make extra and freeze the dough. So, I did do that today as well. It's freezing right now. (Balanced a bit precariously, but I know not to open the door quickly.) In a bit, I'll put them in a container.

The other thing I do manage to do, is keep files on the computer organized. My pictures are in files labeled by year or type like "Shots to use on the web." My emails are also organized by ones I want saved: Blog tech tips, Blog info, Names of Friends, etc. I can manage to do that but not the physical organization on a regular basis.

I'm blessed that even thought I'm not organized, God manages to use me anyway.

I need to run. I have two boys to pick up and entertain for the weekend! Can't wait for a chance to peruse your ideas!