10 Things I've Learned As A Cashier

1)Busy Is Better Than Dead
A four hour shift that you don't do much seems longer than a seven hour shift where you are checking people nonstop.

2)Smile And Nod
If they use your name, they probably know you from somewhere. Smile and nod and pretend you know them even if you swear you've never seen them before.

3)Don't Assume They Don't Speak English
Just because they are Hispanic, don't assume they don't understand you. Treat them like every other customer. They appreciate it, even if their English leaves something to be desired.

4)Make Fun Of The Other Cashiers
It makes the day move faster and more fun. Extra points if you make fun of your managers.

5)I Hate People
The job wouldn't be as bad if it weren't for the customers.

6)If You Don't Know, Delegate
If someone asks you something and you don't know the answer, or know the answer is something they don't want to hear, send them to someone you don't know or, in the later case, to someone you don't like.

7)Audits Aren't Necessarily A Bad Thing
If your manager audits your register, it doesn't mean you did something wrong. They just need to audit a certain number a week.

8)5 Minute Conversations
Pick a new topic for every customer based either on something they say, something they are wearing, or something they are buying.

9)I'm Not Good At Names
People know me. I don't know them.

10)I'm good At Faking It
I can carry on a conversation without knowing the person, or without knowing the topic.

Wow, It's Been A While

So about a week ago, I went to go see Mitch and James run in a cross country meet. In my honest opinion, everyone should see one in their lifetime. Just one. Anyway, here is me and James before his race.

Here is James lining up to start the race. Beside him you can see the Okaboji Jr High girls team who missed their race, and decided to run with the boys. You can tease James. Some of them beat him!

Here he is makeing a last minute sprint towards the finish line.

...And here he is right after he finished running. He got 7th! Much better than last year's second-to-last performance.

And here is Mitch running (posted due to the fact he asked me not to).

He didn't do too bad. Well, he didn't finish dead last...

Anyway, I'll try to post more often now. Of course, this means y'all shold post more too...

How To Do Long Subtraction

Living Historty

Living History Farms! I hadn't been there since the 4th grade.
Becky having fun at the Indian wigwam.

The 1800's farm. And the menfolk cutting grass.

James was scary with this thing. I thought he was going to let go and kill someone.

Exploring...

Mike doing women's work.

Moving forward in time. We were all happy about this except Mike.

Mom made a friend.

You can't see it, but this seat bounces.

By this point we were all tired and hungry.

If only Mike were this enthusiastic about mowing the lawn at home...

This one seems pretty self-explanatory.

The waitress advised against Mike ordering this because she didn't think he'd be able to finish it.

...but he finished it! Though, he didn't finish his fries.

At the blacksmith's, one of them showed us a knife blade and the wire used to make it.

Look at us good little kids excited to be in school.

I always knew Becka was a bad child...

Becky at the wood workers.

Mike and James spent so much time at the blacksmiths (read, they stayed there the entire time that the rest of us were exploring the village) that they were allowed to go behind the security chain, and Mike got to stoke the fire.

As per tradition, at the end of the day, your day pass sticker goes on some piece of public furniture outside. Not shown: the completely wallpapered trashcans.

Zoo: Part 1

Car trips. When you leave early in the morning, people like to sleep.
Omaha Zoo. The greatest zoo in the world. Yes. I still like zoos. Here is me hugging the world. Here are us girls looking at...

the cute tigers!

Even though it was over 100*, there were those that were able to keep cool.

Meet Henry the Hippo. He eats people.

Henry was hungry enough to go back for seconds. High on a hill was a lonely goat herd... Becky was obsessed with the budgies.

And yet another pretty bird. That wandered around. Unfortunately we couldn't catch one and smuggle it home.

End part 1. But wait, there's more...

Zoo: Part 2

Start Part 2: Sea Otters! Soooo cute!
Meercat! In the Desert Dome!

The cute rock dwellers.

The arrival of uncle Jim from Lincoln.

And his kids, Levi, Caleb, and the twins Grace

...and Micah.

'Allo. My name's Bruce...

Levi. The Shrimp.

Penguins! My favoritist animal!

Baby shark, do do, do do do do...

Move on.

Zoo: Part 3

Begin the 3rd (and longest). Fishies, fishies, everywhere!
Look at the pretty, fragile creatures in the...

Flutterfly house!

Look at the monkeys!

The hills are alive, with the sound of music...

They're touching the snake! Oh, wait. It's a vine.

Are you having fun yet?

Awww.... You can tell why all the girls have a crush on him...

When you're not tall enough to look over the edge, improvise!

Ahhhhh!

Crikey! Look at the size of those things!

Cheese!

Pretty bird! Pretty bird!

Watch your step!

We enter yet another continent.

Charity, Charity, Charity of the Jungle. Watch out for that tree!

Reach high, to the sky, and you still can't reach the first branch.

Side B. Side B.