Alright, I'd like to preface this entry by first saying that I just spent WAY too much time figuring this out. I SHOULD have been reading for class tomorrow, but instead, I was calculating routes and times and costs and savings and all sorts of junk, but I've been waiting for the new Metro schedules to begin (which was today, by the way), so that I can prove a point. Or points, as it will likely turn out to be.
As most everyone in the STL area realizes, the new Cross County Metrolink extension opened for full-service use today. Along with this new line, efficiently designed or not, comes a completely revamped Metrobus service. I believe that every line was affected, and was either re-routed, eliminated, expanded, combined, or otherwise changed so as to accommodate the 8 new station stops, as well as to hopefully allow for more practical and widespread use of our city's somewhat pitiful albeit dedicated mass transit system.
Now, about a month ago, knowing that drastic changes were in store, I used Metro's "Tripfinder" feature to determine how I, poor little Colleen who's sick of paying nearly $3/gallon to drive from Dogtown to her dear job in Kirkwood, might be able to commute via public transportation, and if such a feat would be at all efficient.
Both Mapquest and Metro agreed that my commute was approximately 9.62 miles, and by my usual drive down I-44, this takes 13 minutes. Some other points that I included in Tripfinder was that I wanted to arrive at Target by 7:30am, and leave around 4:30pm (this was before school started, and I didn't get to bust out of there at 2, but regardless).
So...out pop my results, and it's scary. Three buses in the morning commute, the #'s 16, 57, and 49, and I'd have to leave from Skinker and Clayton at 6:14am!!! just to get there on time. The way home was also over an hour commute but this time with only two buses, the #47 and 52. I'd have to leave Target at 4:20 and would arrive back at Skinker and Clayton at 5:23. Ouch.
I don't even need to go on explaining how it can't possibly be reasonable for a sleep-deprived college kid to try to make it to a bus stop by 6:14am, let alone rationalize spending over an hour going from bus to bus just to get to work less than 10 miles away. It's wrong for so many reasons. And it's certainly tragic for all of those who have no choice but to do this every single day simply because they aren't as fortunate as I am with my trusty little Honda.
Well, now fast forward a month or so to today, when the new schedules are in effect, and the Tripfinder is all set up to help me show that sometimes all of those changes actually DO make sense. And what to my surprise do I discover? It is A LOT better. Most obviously, it's just one bus, the new #59 Shaw-Kirkwood, and it's the same bus and route going to and from work. Secondly, it's just a 35 minute trip in the morning, and 42 in the afternoon. That's a lot more appealing to me. Finally, it is a bus that stops at the top of my street on Clayton Avenue! Less than two blocks away! It drops me off right at Lindbergh and Big Bend, too, so I really can't imagine it being more convenient.
The bus would be practical for me on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, when I don't close. It doesn't run late enough on Tuesday nights for my closing shift, and the weekend schedule is a bit sketchy, as well. That aspect of the new schedules doesn't seem to have changed, although here on the fourth point down, Metro says that they have improved night and weekend service on "key routes", so hopefully the people who really need better access will see some improvements.
One last detail about this whole Metrobus commuting thing that makes it seem more and more appealing. The cost. Or should I say, the savings?
Mind you, I currently ride the Metrolink 8 times a week, and bought a super cheap UMSL student pass for the semester for only $45. This includes all the Metrolink and Metrobus rides I want, not just to and from school. My savings with this pass are great already, considering only the price of parking at UMSL ($216 for this semester if I had caved and bought my first one ever for my last semester ever).
Now, let me get to the numbers, which I am basing on just my drive to and from work, and only 13 times a month, since I'd replace approximately that number of drives with a leisurely ride on the bus. I got the figures through another feature on Metro's website, their cost of driving calculator.
The inputs were: 20 miles round trip, 13 days/month driven to work, average MPG of the good 'ol Honda: 25 (and yes, I've figured this out before, too), cost of parking: $0, and cost/mile in maintenence, repairs, depreciation, and insurance: 25¢. That last figure was given by AAA as 56.1¢/mile, but I halved it since I have low insurance (just liability), a low resale value (that baby is over 13 years old. Anyone who's ever taken any accounting can tell you that it has long since passed it's useful lifespan for depreciation purposes), and well, the fact that by driving a Honda, pretty much everything is cheaper. I haven't had a major repair in a year. Knock on wood, but the car just doesn't give up that easily.
ANYWAY. It costs me $93.60 per month to make those 13 round trips to work. The pass I could buy if I wasn't an UMSL student would cost $60 per month. Right there I'm saving over $30. In reality, I'm saving the whole amount since the pass is done and paid for anyway so that I can get to school. I can think of a MILLION ways to spend that $30, and I really know my credit card would appreciate that extra $90 payment.
Finally, I have to mention that I would also be saving myself some much despised driving time. I. Hate. Driving. Most of you know this. I generally drive like a grandma, and unless I'm completely familiar with the route, I'm a nervous nellie the whole time. I try to be more relaxed about it all, but I just don't like it. I don't like knowing that I'm polluting, either, but that's a whole other blog. Regardless, it would only be good for my jittery nerves (egged on the two cups of coffee I chug on the way to work), and I'd have chill time to wear down my iPod battery, and possibly even get some reading done (if I can convince my stomach that it's cool).
While I wrote this as a hypothetical report on the new and "improved" Metrobus service, I genuinely am considering trying it. If anything, I know I have the option to do so, and that could come in handy when the old Accord just doesn't feel like going anymore. I still have to talk to my Dad, and see how his bus routes were affected and whether or not the changes have helped him or just gotten longer and less direct. I doubt it. Whatever the changes were, though, he wouldn't stop riding. He's probably seen a revamp like this a hundred times. Though most recently it's been cutbacks, not increases in service. All I can do is hope that this trend continues. Public transportation is one of the most decisive factors in whether or not a city can be reconnected and continue to grow. St. Louis needs to do lots of both. I look forward to seeing some promising results.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
About Flippin' Time!
This is amazing! I am sort of surprised that it has finally been approved, after all the drama...
Can't wait to hear what NPR has to say :)
Can't wait to hear what NPR has to say :)
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Tuesdays
I am not sure why, but for pretty much the past 6 years, minus one semseter when I had a night class then, I have closed on Tuesdays. That also means that I go to class pretty much most of the day and work my butt off before going to work (minus one semester when I didn't take ANY classes...for a really stupid reason that I think only Nina or Katie remembers).
What this means is that Tuesdays SUCK. Briefly, they were tolerable, when all I was dealing with was Mera-Slack courseloads and had a decent partner in crime to work with (Jeff for the majority, Jen for a while, Missy for a couple nights, and Kyndall nowadays).
But, as college got successively more difficult/time consuming, I've grown to loathe this stupid second day of the work week. Even during the summer it sucks: you start the day off nice, sleeping in, getting stuff done, and just when you get a nice rhythm of being able to just do your thing, you look at the clock, and shit, it's time to get ready for work.
Not to mention the fact that I pretty much HATE closing. It's also gotten successively worse over the years, but you can pretty much always count on the complete uncertainty that all the stupid kids will show up, that all hell may break loose at the checkouts, and that the returns desk might just explode with junk needing to be put away. Or that the store itself went through a veritable holocaust and if we're lucky, we've got competent enough people who can put it back together in a fashion acceptable to the varying and nitpicking whims of that evening's manager.
I hate to rant about work because, well, it's TARGET. However, last night was especially ridiculous, or I just got fed up. I had to close Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday, and I think it was too much. Plus I hate the place more than ever, with all the changes and stuff going on, and I'm just done with it. I don't care about one bit of it. It's all an act now, and I pretty much just broke down last night. I cried. My mom brought me dinner (Bread Co, it was good), and I refrained from just walking out and quitting, but I was up late when I got home looking for other jobs or paid internships or other illicit money making "ventures." (Ok, so maybe not that last one). But still. I don't know if I can do it for another four months. Every day just seems to get worse, or at least be harder to tolerate.
Plus there's an obnoxious weirdo in all three of my Tuesday morning classes at school. It's just a super day, really.
What this means is that Tuesdays SUCK. Briefly, they were tolerable, when all I was dealing with was Mera-Slack courseloads and had a decent partner in crime to work with (Jeff for the majority, Jen for a while, Missy for a couple nights, and Kyndall nowadays).
But, as college got successively more difficult/time consuming, I've grown to loathe this stupid second day of the work week. Even during the summer it sucks: you start the day off nice, sleeping in, getting stuff done, and just when you get a nice rhythm of being able to just do your thing, you look at the clock, and shit, it's time to get ready for work.
Not to mention the fact that I pretty much HATE closing. It's also gotten successively worse over the years, but you can pretty much always count on the complete uncertainty that all the stupid kids will show up, that all hell may break loose at the checkouts, and that the returns desk might just explode with junk needing to be put away. Or that the store itself went through a veritable holocaust and if we're lucky, we've got competent enough people who can put it back together in a fashion acceptable to the varying and nitpicking whims of that evening's manager.
I hate to rant about work because, well, it's TARGET. However, last night was especially ridiculous, or I just got fed up. I had to close Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday, and I think it was too much. Plus I hate the place more than ever, with all the changes and stuff going on, and I'm just done with it. I don't care about one bit of it. It's all an act now, and I pretty much just broke down last night. I cried. My mom brought me dinner (Bread Co, it was good), and I refrained from just walking out and quitting, but I was up late when I got home looking for other jobs or paid internships or other illicit money making "ventures." (Ok, so maybe not that last one). But still. I don't know if I can do it for another four months. Every day just seems to get worse, or at least be harder to tolerate.
Plus there's an obnoxious weirdo in all three of my Tuesday morning classes at school. It's just a super day, really.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Last First Day (#1)
Right, so tonight was my last first day of school, at least the first one. I count two because I only had one class tonight, and there are still three more to get through tomorrow.
I'm really excited to be almost done, and I really feel like I've been at that school WAY too long. I notice too many subtle differences in the buildings (they finally finished the drop ceiling in the business building basement...no more hanging wires and light fixtures), landscape (there is something going on AGAIN near the "lakes" and the place looks more and more like a golf course), the scenery along the metrolink route (burnt out buildings next to Wellston are STILL there, some new graffiti to look at, new signs at the cemeteries, etc.), hell, even that we apparently switched from being a Coke school to a Pepsi one.
Well, that last one is kind of a big deal, since it means all new vending machines (that hopefully won't rip you off so freely), and Aquafina water, instead of Dasani. This is great, because Coke puts salt in Dasani. Not quite so refreshing, when it's dehydrating you as you drink it. Also, it means Gatorade, instead of Powerade, and that is wonderful because a nice red Gatorade is my hangover cure, and with a 9:30 class two days a week, I might need it.
But there are always the things that stay the same. Like the super majorly dorky guy with bad breath who approached me after class to ask if I was in "Budsky's" class last semester. What? I mean, I was exactly sure who this kid was, but I played dumb and pretended like I had no clue what he was talking about. "Budsky", he said. "Bud Banis's class". Right. Dr. Bud Banis...the Operations Mgt. prof. whose class I nearly failed, but pulled off a B in. I confirmed his suspicions then quickly whipped out my iPod headphones and booked it to the computer lab (to print my resume so I can update it for career services), and luckily lost the dork on my way to the mac section.
We'll see how tomorrow goes. Three classes, one hour-ish break, and work pretty much right after class until close. Looking forward to it, really.
But first I need some of this deliciousness for dinner, and then a nice cold drink of some sort, and I'll just pretend like summer isn't really over until tomorrow.
I'm really excited to be almost done, and I really feel like I've been at that school WAY too long. I notice too many subtle differences in the buildings (they finally finished the drop ceiling in the business building basement...no more hanging wires and light fixtures), landscape (there is something going on AGAIN near the "lakes" and the place looks more and more like a golf course), the scenery along the metrolink route (burnt out buildings next to Wellston are STILL there, some new graffiti to look at, new signs at the cemeteries, etc.), hell, even that we apparently switched from being a Coke school to a Pepsi one.
Well, that last one is kind of a big deal, since it means all new vending machines (that hopefully won't rip you off so freely), and Aquafina water, instead of Dasani. This is great, because Coke puts salt in Dasani. Not quite so refreshing, when it's dehydrating you as you drink it. Also, it means Gatorade, instead of Powerade, and that is wonderful because a nice red Gatorade is my hangover cure, and with a 9:30 class two days a week, I might need it.
But there are always the things that stay the same. Like the super majorly dorky guy with bad breath who approached me after class to ask if I was in "Budsky's" class last semester. What? I mean, I was exactly sure who this kid was, but I played dumb and pretended like I had no clue what he was talking about. "Budsky", he said. "Bud Banis's class". Right. Dr. Bud Banis...the Operations Mgt. prof. whose class I nearly failed, but pulled off a B in. I confirmed his suspicions then quickly whipped out my iPod headphones and booked it to the computer lab (to print my resume so I can update it for career services), and luckily lost the dork on my way to the mac section.
We'll see how tomorrow goes. Three classes, one hour-ish break, and work pretty much right after class until close. Looking forward to it, really.
But first I need some of this deliciousness for dinner, and then a nice cold drink of some sort, and I'll just pretend like summer isn't really over until tomorrow.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
This could be a record.
This upcoming season will be my NINTH Christmas holiday at Target, and I thought I'd seen it all.
However, I think they broke a record for starting to sell "holiday themed" merchandise (read: crap) at ungodly early times.
Today, the Domestics team lead put up a small side display of, yes, Christmas Tree and Reindeer vinyl tablecloths.
You'd better rush in to get one, I'm sure they'll be selling like mad.
It's August.
However, I think they broke a record for starting to sell "holiday themed" merchandise (read: crap) at ungodly early times.
Today, the Domestics team lead put up a small side display of, yes, Christmas Tree and Reindeer vinyl tablecloths.
You'd better rush in to get one, I'm sure they'll be selling like mad.
It's August.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Ok, this is important.
Excuse my languange, but what the fuck?
I can't believe what I just saw. That is ridiculous, and shameful. And people cheered. Disgusting.
Here's a letter I got that is trying to solicit fundraising to defeat this guy. I'm all for it.
By now you've probably heard about the remarks recently made by Senator George Allen at one of his campaign events, aimed at a young Democratic volunteer who was attending and videotaping the event.
Watch Senator Allen's stunning remarks here. (link is above)
As you can see in the video, Senator Allen calls this young Webb campaign volunteer of Indian descent "macaca," which means monkey, and is a racial epithet used in some European cultures for people with dark skin. And he doesn't use this term once, but twice. On top of that, Senator Allen tells him, "Welcome to America" as if he's some kind of outsider.
Well, this young Webb campaign volunteer has a name, and it's S.R. Sidarth. Senator Allen should have known this because Mr. Sidarth introduced himself to the Senator before the event. Mr. Sidarth is a student at the University of Virginia, and he's an American, born and raised in Virginia.
This is just one more example -- a very visible and disturbing one -- of how out of touch Senator Allen is. So far he has only offered a half-hearted apology to Mr. Sidarth, claiming he had no idea "macaca" was a racially charged term. The facts belie this explanation.
This feeble attempt at an apology is simply not good enough.
Let's send Senator Allen a strong message from our PAC for a Change community that America deserves better. If George Allen can't appreciate the diversity of Virginia, then he simply doesn't understand that this is what makes America so strong.
Stand up and reject Senator Allen's divisive politics -- Please contribute to Virginia Democratic nominee Jim Webb's campaign for U.S. Senate today!
Click to Contribute
As you know, Democrats have a great shot at taking back the Senate this year. And even before George Allen's recent gaffe, Virginia has already been a huge potential pick-up opportunity, thanks to Democratic nominee Jim Webb.
Jim Webb is a decorated Marine, winner of the Navy Cross and two Purple Hearts, and former Secretary of the Navy. As a soldier, Jim was a legendary fighter. As a citizen, Jim has been a principled and persuasive leader. An early and frequent critic of the Bush Administration's foreign policy, Webb opposed President Bush's invasion of Iraq from the very beginning, while Sen. Allen has been the chief cheerleader of this war.
Please contribute $50, $25, or even $10 to Jim Webb as he takes on Senator George Allen to win back the Senate seat in Virginia!
http://www.actblue.com/page/boxer4webb
If Jim Webb wins on November 7th, there's no stopping us! With your help, Democrats can -- and will -- take back the Senate this fall.
In Friendship,
Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senator
I can't believe what I just saw. That is ridiculous, and shameful. And people cheered. Disgusting.
Here's a letter I got that is trying to solicit fundraising to defeat this guy. I'm all for it.
By now you've probably heard about the remarks recently made by Senator George Allen at one of his campaign events, aimed at a young Democratic volunteer who was attending and videotaping the event.
Watch Senator Allen's stunning remarks here. (link is above)
As you can see in the video, Senator Allen calls this young Webb campaign volunteer of Indian descent "macaca," which means monkey, and is a racial epithet used in some European cultures for people with dark skin. And he doesn't use this term once, but twice. On top of that, Senator Allen tells him, "Welcome to America" as if he's some kind of outsider.
Well, this young Webb campaign volunteer has a name, and it's S.R. Sidarth. Senator Allen should have known this because Mr. Sidarth introduced himself to the Senator before the event. Mr. Sidarth is a student at the University of Virginia, and he's an American, born and raised in Virginia.
This is just one more example -- a very visible and disturbing one -- of how out of touch Senator Allen is. So far he has only offered a half-hearted apology to Mr. Sidarth, claiming he had no idea "macaca" was a racially charged term. The facts belie this explanation.
This feeble attempt at an apology is simply not good enough.
Let's send Senator Allen a strong message from our PAC for a Change community that America deserves better. If George Allen can't appreciate the diversity of Virginia, then he simply doesn't understand that this is what makes America so strong.
Stand up and reject Senator Allen's divisive politics -- Please contribute to Virginia Democratic nominee Jim Webb's campaign for U.S. Senate today!
Click to Contribute
As you know, Democrats have a great shot at taking back the Senate this year. And even before George Allen's recent gaffe, Virginia has already been a huge potential pick-up opportunity, thanks to Democratic nominee Jim Webb.
Jim Webb is a decorated Marine, winner of the Navy Cross and two Purple Hearts, and former Secretary of the Navy. As a soldier, Jim was a legendary fighter. As a citizen, Jim has been a principled and persuasive leader. An early and frequent critic of the Bush Administration's foreign policy, Webb opposed President Bush's invasion of Iraq from the very beginning, while Sen. Allen has been the chief cheerleader of this war.
Please contribute $50, $25, or even $10 to Jim Webb as he takes on Senator George Allen to win back the Senate seat in Virginia!
http://www.actblue.com/page/boxer4webb
If Jim Webb wins on November 7th, there's no stopping us! With your help, Democrats can -- and will -- take back the Senate this fall.
In Friendship,
Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senator
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Yes, I'm a big dork
School doesn't start for another 12 days, however....
I now have all 5 of my textbooks in my possession, and I've started going through a couple already.
Maybe I'm subconciously trying to make up for such horrendous performance last semester, or maybe I'm trying to be the good student I always wished I was. Either way, I'm feeling like a nerd hardcore. Whatever. All I know is that after this semester I won't be stuck at the big red T anymore with the "barbie brigade" and people who could be my little sisters bossing me around. If that's not motivation to be studious, then I don't know what is.
I now have all 5 of my textbooks in my possession, and I've started going through a couple already.
Maybe I'm subconciously trying to make up for such horrendous performance last semester, or maybe I'm trying to be the good student I always wished I was. Either way, I'm feeling like a nerd hardcore. Whatever. All I know is that after this semester I won't be stuck at the big red T anymore with the "barbie brigade" and people who could be my little sisters bossing me around. If that's not motivation to be studious, then I don't know what is.
A Rhetorical Question for Everyone
IF my Honda has a 13 gallon tank,
THEN why did it just cost $40 to fill it up?
THEN why did it just cost $40 to fill it up?
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Two things missing
There are two things missing from the vicinity of my apartment, and I wish that they both could come back.
1. The tree that used to be outside my living room window, in the front yard. It was apparently a casualty of the Great Storm of '06 (remember, it was a State of Emergency), which I missed while in Ireland. Now I just miss the shade. Badly. My living room is bright and hot, even with the shades pulled. It was a crappy tree, but I appreciated it.
2. My mail from the entire month that I was gone. I finally got through with the post office people yesterday. I had a vacation hold placed on my address for 30 days, and the confirmation number to prove it. But the manager at my post office said that apparently my mail carrier never got the message. So....all my mail got sent back. Fantastic, there is nothing anyone can do about it, and I'm quite sure I didn't even get a "sorry" out of her. Lame. All my student loan paperwork should have been coming last month, so who knows what I missed. Some people have been calling to check my address, and resending stuff, but that seems to be the exception.
Yuck.
I'm sure I'll get over both these dramas, but I'm just in a mood. Target. New boss, not so great. I can't wait to leave that place. I wish that they would all just leave me alone, and let me do my job. I've been there longer than most all the managers put together and I know how to do my job. They don't seem to get it. If there's anything I can't stand, it's people who have worked in retail for about a month breathing down my neck and expecting me to read their minds. And talking to me in a "smart" tone. But I can give it right back, and if they don't leave me alone, you better believe I will.
ahhhh. Better now.
1. The tree that used to be outside my living room window, in the front yard. It was apparently a casualty of the Great Storm of '06 (remember, it was a State of Emergency), which I missed while in Ireland. Now I just miss the shade. Badly. My living room is bright and hot, even with the shades pulled. It was a crappy tree, but I appreciated it.
2. My mail from the entire month that I was gone. I finally got through with the post office people yesterday. I had a vacation hold placed on my address for 30 days, and the confirmation number to prove it. But the manager at my post office said that apparently my mail carrier never got the message. So....all my mail got sent back. Fantastic, there is nothing anyone can do about it, and I'm quite sure I didn't even get a "sorry" out of her. Lame. All my student loan paperwork should have been coming last month, so who knows what I missed. Some people have been calling to check my address, and resending stuff, but that seems to be the exception.
Yuck.
I'm sure I'll get over both these dramas, but I'm just in a mood. Target. New boss, not so great. I can't wait to leave that place. I wish that they would all just leave me alone, and let me do my job. I've been there longer than most all the managers put together and I know how to do my job. They don't seem to get it. If there's anything I can't stand, it's people who have worked in retail for about a month breathing down my neck and expecting me to read their minds. And talking to me in a "smart" tone. But I can give it right back, and if they don't leave me alone, you better believe I will.
ahhhh. Better now.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Some things may change, but they really stay the same.
I didn't really expect life at the big red T to be any different when I got back. It wasn't.
That's not to say that there weren't like 5 million personnel changes, rearrangements, and new hires. There are. It's just that I've seen it all happen before, and I think I'm finally numb to it.
I used to get really sad when people left. I remember the first time someone I really liked quit. It was at the old Kirkwood store, and I was 16. I was heartbroken, and I couldn't stop thinking about it for like a month. Granted, I WAS 16, so that probably had a lot to do with it. As the years went on, I would still be sad though, when someone I especially got along with (or maybe just had a huge crush on) would leave.
But for the past couple of years, I've really just gotten over it. I mean, mostly I'm jealous of the people who leave for another job. I know that I will be there someday, too, but if that day was tomorrow I'd really be thrilled.
Even with all of the people moving around, though, my 40-hour a week life at Target isn't going to be all that different. Probably just a bit quieter, especially with Jeff leaving. It was noticeably quieter when Jerry stepped down and wasn't there for break-time entertainment purposes and throwing pillows at people. Other than that, there are still going to be the same hoosier shoppers, screaming kids, grumpy old men, and me answering the same questions over and over again (a perk of being in charge of the first department that the majority of our shoppers walk through).
My main goal is to be ambivalent about it all, not let the masses get to me, and make it through two (maybe three) more transitions, one last Christmas, and as soon as humanly possible after graduation QUIT. That'll be the day, and it will be a BIG party. You all will be invited.
That's not to say that there weren't like 5 million personnel changes, rearrangements, and new hires. There are. It's just that I've seen it all happen before, and I think I'm finally numb to it.
I used to get really sad when people left. I remember the first time someone I really liked quit. It was at the old Kirkwood store, and I was 16. I was heartbroken, and I couldn't stop thinking about it for like a month. Granted, I WAS 16, so that probably had a lot to do with it. As the years went on, I would still be sad though, when someone I especially got along with (or maybe just had a huge crush on) would leave.
But for the past couple of years, I've really just gotten over it. I mean, mostly I'm jealous of the people who leave for another job. I know that I will be there someday, too, but if that day was tomorrow I'd really be thrilled.
Even with all of the people moving around, though, my 40-hour a week life at Target isn't going to be all that different. Probably just a bit quieter, especially with Jeff leaving. It was noticeably quieter when Jerry stepped down and wasn't there for break-time entertainment purposes and throwing pillows at people. Other than that, there are still going to be the same hoosier shoppers, screaming kids, grumpy old men, and me answering the same questions over and over again (a perk of being in charge of the first department that the majority of our shoppers walk through).
My main goal is to be ambivalent about it all, not let the masses get to me, and make it through two (maybe three) more transitions, one last Christmas, and as soon as humanly possible after graduation QUIT. That'll be the day, and it will be a BIG party. You all will be invited.
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