A Change in the Store

 There's a lot of change happening in the store this year. 

The first of which occurred today, being that our Salon got brand new computers.

Why the brand new computers? Because the system was updated to FINALLY allow grooming customers to check out and pay (if they're paying with a card) in the salon. 

That is if they're only paying for grooming. If they want to buy other stuff in the store they still have to go through the regular register to do that.

But we finally can save the grooming customers time by having them do everything right there in the salon. 

Before they would have to walk into the salon, grab the invoice, go back out into the store and pay for their service, and then go back into the salon to pick up their dog/cat. 

Now they can just walk into the salon and pay for the service there and pick up their dog their and save everyone some time. 

Which is great! 

....Though of course not all the groomers are on board with the change. Since like....none of them have ever worked the register before. So it was a fun learning curve for them today with that.

Can't imagine how they're going to react next month....

Because our store has been slated for a "Store Refresh" 

Which means like...a completely new fish wall, a new register area...though I'm not sure if the registers themselves are changing or just how things are arranged up there, the breakroom is getting a refresh, the bathrooms are being updated and getting things replaced....and the salon too is getting a refresh. Which includes them moving where the door is to enter the Salon. 

They're planning on moving it away from the entrance and further into the store. Which makes sense it helps to keep customers for the salon waiting to go into the room from blocking customers trying to come in and out of the store. 

So yah... a lot of change happening next month.

And now included in that change is our truck shipments as well.

Though that's happening closer towards mid spring/early summer time.

As currently we're getting in trucks to restock the store just once a week.

Which is annoying when we're doing online orders and the online orders wipe us out of product and then our shelves sit empty for a week.....

But it sounds like we're returning to either the holiday schedule...or Corporate finally rediscovered that it's actually better to have trucks twice a week instead of once a week to better keep the store in stock.

In any case. We'll be moving to having truck in twice a week, which hopefully means we have smaller truck loads as having to work 30+ pallets in one day is EXHAUSTING. 

But it's also .... a bit annoying because it's like...will they give us the HOURS to be able to work truck both days? Because right now the single day is like an all hands on deck day where we half a dozen people in all at the same time to work the truck so we can get it done in the day....but idk if they'll give us that capability to do that if it's coming twice a week.

We'll have to see. 

Regardless....lots of change happening in the near future in the store. 

I'm most excited/nervous for the new fish wall. Because our fish wall is ancient, but like....it's what I know. So it will be weird to have all brand new tanks....but so nice. So very nice I hope.

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Short Staffed

 So it's pretty safe to say that work has been an ongoing stresser in my life the last little while. 

And really it all pretty much started last Fall when:

1. A manager announced they were leaving the store. 

and 2. A different manager announced that they were pregnant. 

The first manager leaving wasn't unexpected in that I'd been made aware that they had been considering leaving to go back to school. So I wasn't surprised when they did leave....though we were left up in the air for a monthish or so on whether they were sticking with the store (stepping down from manager and working part time) or if they were actually quitting.

Which with that position opening up, I decided to shoot my shot and apply for that manager position. As I'd originally taken a lesser manager position below this manager position with the intention to learn how to do that job under the other manager's wing so I could confidentially step up into the position when the time came.

It was ... slightly difficult because this manager wasn't the best at....guiding...teaching....so it was a lot like pulling teeth trying to figure out what I would need to know to do the job well. 

Which is kinda mind boggling that this manager didn't take the time to mentor anyone and teach them knowing that they were leaving.... 

And there was so much I would have done different if I was in their position, though I do have a bit more experience in teaching in the store as I've taught practically every single person who's worked in Petcare how to do their job. 

In any case. They left, I applied for the job and with the new management positions came new processes on how to actually get 'hired' for the job. 

Which dragged out something that probably could have been done within the week....to like a three month long process.

Like the manager left right before school started for the fall. I didn't get the job until right before Thanksgiving. 

So we were a manager short for multiple months during the busiest time of the year. 

As we're a six manager crew. 

And with one manager down...that left us with 5 managers.

Which is still doable.......

Only the 2nd manager who announced they were expecting....has had quite the difficult pregnancy. Constant call outs for various medical related things. Which added onto the stress of the store because we never knew for sure if this manager would be calling out and leaving us short that day or not. And it eventually accumulated to the manager having to take an LOA because the medical issues were getting life threatening enough that it wasn't safe for them to work anymore. 

But we're still in the dark as to when they're coming back. As this LOA happened at the beginning of 2026. And was supposed to last like 5 weeks....but the manager is pretty close to the due date now...only a couple of months away so we're like....are they going to bring the manager back from LOA for maybe a month only to turn around and put them straight back on Maternity leave?

Which with that manager out that took us down to 4 managers. Which...still doable....but it's like...don't get sick and don't take vacations because we do not have the coverage to make everything work...sort of feel to the store.

While we did get approved to take on a temporary manager who will only be a manager so long as our one manager is out on LOA....it is temporary. So right now we have 5 managers....but that could go away at any moment if the one manager comes back from their LOA because we can only have a temporary manager while they're out. Once they come back the temp goes back to being a regular worker. 

And we're still in the dark.

No idea when they're coming back. So it's kinda like being in a rock and a hard place because like...we can't really make any long term plans until we know what this manager is doing. Like vacations? How can we plan a vacation if we're not sure what they're doing??? 

I mean, Head Manager and I are probably the only ones concerned about taking vacations and leaving the store short staffed manager wise. 

But like...with all the stress going on in my life I really could use like a week away from the store, and with all the uncertainty on who's going to be there or not....it seems like playing with fire.

Especially because at the beginning of 2026 we were informed that because we didn't meet a certain quota of sales last year (because our Vet Clinic closed and all those customers left) we no longer qualified to have 6 managers.

We can only have 5 managers.

Which...was a bit of a blow. As we'd just been prepping to finally get all the positions filled in the store now that the holiday crazy was over.....and then we had to be like "Oh guess we're not hiring for an empty manager position anymore" because it's going away. 

So like we were down a manager since last Fall, then down another manager since they went on LOA. And now we're permanently stuck with 5....

Just in time for the third manager to "hurt" themselves (a story for a different post because I'm still very bitter about this) where they had to go on a weight limit. 

Which when 99% of their particular manager job is LIFTING THINGS....it basically meant that we were down to three managers. Like this manager was still present and working in the store, but I had to take on a lot more of the work because they couldn't lift as much anymore.

So I'm dealing with being short a manager permanently, one on LOA, one injured, and the last manager moving at a snail's pace for any and all tasks given.....

It's kinda no wonder I was stressed out the last couple of months.

Like Head Manager already has alot on their plate so it often felt like I was the only one who actually was working in the store. Because I could do tasks 4x faster than the other two managers. 

And it still feels that way because like injured manager just barely got approval to go back to full weights. 

And it's just.....

Yah. The manager scene at work has been on fire. 

And will still be on fire for a bit longer until we hear for certain when LOA manager is coming back.....

We're hoping it's after their maternity leave....

but that also means that that manager wouldn't be back until the Summer at some point. 

And also means that my nice long week vacation that I desperately crave...probably won't happen until the summer either. Probably for my birthday. 

Which considering I try to take longer vacations every 3-4 months because I get grumpy....the fact that it will be difficult to take a longer vacations until halfway through the year....has got me really grumpy.

I do have a couple of weekends requested off. 

But vanishing for a week?

Yah no go quite yet. 

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Shut Down

 It's a common phenomena with me, that I write to process things...and when I don't want to process things...I don't write.

And can I saw that there's been a lot....like a lot going on since I last posted. 

Like it felt like every aspect of my life imploded all at once.

Which left me in a high stress state for far too long.

Especially because like most of it was out of my control. So like there was nothing really actionable that I could do to lessen my stress load besides waiting and riding it out. 

I had roommate stressors, family in the hospital with near death experiences, work has imploded on itself on multiple levels, and my migraines once fully manageable had fully returned to like occurring basically every day because increased stress brings those back full force.

So yah.

I was highly stressed. 

And while a lot of it has been mitigated.....

2026 is not doing that great of a job of being a relaxing year. 

So currently my goal is to try and find ways to mitigate my stressors where I can.

Which honestly half of the would probably be solved if I took a nice long vacation away from everything. 

But that's part of the work related stressors in that I can't really escape on a long vacation right now because there's too much up in the air with other managers and other factors out of my control until we get a more firm plan on what others are up to.

So yah....

Mitigation is the goal.

And perhaps I should  work more on trying to not fully shut down when things get too hectic and actually use this blog to post my thoughts so that I can just....vent and get everything out there and not hold onto it as much.

We'll see.....it's a work in progress.

But at least I took the first step tonight with posting this post. So baby steps!

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Exhaustion

One of the many things that I dislike about work is those moments where it feels like I'm the only one running around with my head cut off. 

Like it's the sort of situations where it feels like I'm the only one doing anything in the store while everyone else is doing nothing.

Well.... not nothing. But like no one else is volunteering to do extra stuff. They're all doing their own thing and not making the effort to breakaway and do the extra steps.

Or else it feels like I'm the only one people call on for assistance when there's other managers in the stores that could also be helping as well. 

And that latter one is probably because I've proven myself to be the more reliable manager, but also since I have over a decade of experience in the store I tend to be the one who knows the answers.

But it is frustrating to be the one always dashing to the rescue when there's other people in the store who could be dashing to the rescue as well. 

Especially on days like today where it was a busy Saturday and we had that midday rush in the store where every department needs back up and there's at least three different complicated customer situations happening at the same time as well. 

Today probably felt a bit rougher as well because I had two managers in the store with me for a time...but it didn't feel like I had other managers with me.

My morning manager was being their typical nonhelpful self where they stop acting like a manager as soon as another manager shows up and do their best hide in the back and avoid all customer interactions via phone calls, helping in the store, or back up cashiering. Which meant that unless I specifically called them out by name to help out somewhere the morning manager was doing their best to pretend to not exist.

While my closing manager is dealing with various health related issues right now so while 'present' in the store...isn't quite present in that they need to take time off the floor, but while they are on the floor are limited in what tasks they can and can't do because of said health issues.

So it left me to do a lot of running around while it felt like everyone else was standing still. 

And most of the time I can handle it.

But it's been a week filled with similar situations where it feels like I'm the only one actually working so by today I was just...over it. So very much over it.

Hopefully I can take the day tomorrow to reset the mindset for next week....but we'll have to see.

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Check Your Messages

 So. 

In the continuing saga of me wondering where my coworker's brains are at.

We've had one of those... I guess it's been about a months worth...but one of those weeks where everyone and there mom is sick. Like right around Christmas everyone started getting hit with some sort of cold/flu thing. 

Which has continued into the new year with multiple people calling out sick this week. 

Which is pertinent because one of the main requirements needed to open the store is that we need to have two people present in the morning in order to get into the building. 

But due to call outs our usual morning person who comes in with the morning manager was out sick. 

And no one else was available to come in that early. So therefore the last couple of days we needed to delay our entrance into the store a little bit until the next person was scheduled to come in. 

Which hasn't been that big of a deal because yesterday it still gave me time to get stuff done before the main store opened and such. 

And the manager today was contacted via text and warned that there was no second person available for the normal time and that they would need to come in an hour later than scheduled because of it. 

A message that's pretty cut and dry....

IF

and I say IF

said person reads their freaking text messages.

Which I get. 

Not everyone is as connected to their phones as I am. 

I get it. Many people like living disconnected from their phones.

It's probably healthy that way.

But like....if it involves work...you should still check every now and then before your shift starts to make sure you haven't missed any messages. Especially if you're a MANAGER. 

Granted....said manager could have seen the message and just....elected to ignore it. 

It wouldn't surprise me...this manager is...well...stubborn...and completely awful at communication to be honest. 

In any case.

Head Manager and I were also due to come into the store at the EXACT SAME TIME as the opening manager with the delay that was given. 

But when we arrived we discovered the morning manager was already in the store.

And doing a little research we discovered that they entered the store at their ORIGINAL SCHEDULED TIME.

They hadn't made any effort whatsoever to come in LATER like they were told to. 

Plus they broke policy by entering the store without another associate with them. 

And I'm just left shaking my head.

Like....Why?

Did you not SEE the text?

Did you see it and think "Oh I don't need to listen to this?" 

I don't get it. 

But it's another tick in the list of frustrations I have against this particular manager.....

Like....communication is kinda important in this job....and you are very much failing at it morning manager. So much failing. 

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

How's The Migraines?

 I had a check in appointment yesterday with the doctor. 

About my migraines.

Basically a 'how's it going?" sort of thing.

Which overall things have been pretty consistent....

With the exception of like...the last weekish or so where I've had nearly daily migraines.

But that could be attributed to multiple factors....like coming down from having so much social family/friend time from the holiday, and having to deal with a slightly increased stress load at work, and the sudden barometer changes from multiple storms coming and going, plus like just life being screwy from the holidays....

as the last time I had near constant headaches....was when my work/life/home balance got all screwy back in the summertime right around my family reunion where I too had a bunch of work stress, and family socialization and screwed up my diet and my work/life balance and yah.....

Amazing how routine helps to keep you from getting migraines.

In any case.

Even with the outlying causes explained away.

I did bring up the fact that even though I have seen a major decrease in migraines....I am still getting migraines.

and with using the Nurtec as a guide...since I can only get 8 pills a month through my insurance....I've been having between 5-8 migraines a month....

Which like 1-2 of those tend to be on the 5-6 pain scale while the rest are on the 1-2 irritating level of pain which would be negligible and not worth taking the Nurtec at all except if I don't take the Nurtec then the stupid 1-2 level migraines will last for DAYS on end if I don't take something to stop them. 

So yah. Compared to the pain scale of 11 that I was experiencing.

Everything has calmed down significantly from near daily headaches/migraines to 5-8 a month.

But still ....a handful a month is still probably a handful too many. 

So for the next month we've decided to try upping my dosage of topiramate another step. Since I was taking the lowest recommended dose. We decided to bump it up a step to see if that will help get my migraines down to like maybe 1 a month. Hopefully. We'll see. 

So far it's not boding well since I kinda woke up with a migraine today after taking the increased dose.

But it is the first day. Gotta give the stuff time to kick in.

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

What Does Priority Mean To You?

 One of my weaknesses as a manager that I've been working to overcome has been the ....well it should be simple...but the simple matter of delegation.

The process of dividing out tasks to my team so that I'm not the one trying to get everything done by myself. 

I struggle with this though.

Because it often feels like I could have done it much easier and much faster if I'd done it by myself.

Especially in the sort of situations where I DO end up having to do the task by myself after all. 

And it's especially frustrating when I give out tasks to others only to see them not get done.

And it's hard to know if they weren't done because the person didn't want to do them or they didn't have time to do them or some other factor prevented them from completing them. 

But like....coinciding with yesterday in "give a person a specific task and timeframe to get the truck done" it continued on into today.

Where I left my opening manager with a list of tasks that needed to be done.

Which amounted to like 3 things.

1. Open the store.

2. Finish the truck and clean up 

3. Do the required scans to check inventory.

and like a side project was "Hey give the cashiers this project to build so that I can finish this reset a different day. " 

And I get a message at the end of opening manager's shift. 

Hey there's still a bit of truck left and scans weren't done.

Which -_- not unexpected because it was a larger truck and we're still getting back into the groove of having one truck a day. But like....how could you not get truck done when you had EIGHT HOURS to do truck?

Okay more like SIX HOURS to do truck because the opening tasks can take a couple of hours.

And granted it's been a 'sick' week where we've had a bunch of people calling out for not feeling well, which was the case today as well so I get there having to be a bit of breakaway. 

but at the same time....I'd been hoping to have a bit more of truck done. 

But also it turns out that the task I set the opening manager to set the cashiers to do?

Didn't get done either. 

And I don't know if it was because the cashier was like "Nah I don't wanna" or if the morning manager didn't COMMUNICATE that this was a task that needed to be done and therefore the cashier didn't know it needed to be done.

In any case.

I get in touch with the closing manager to be like "Hey finish the truck and then do the scans if you have time but truck is the priority." because we're supposed to have truck done within 24 hours of it arriving. 

And also had the closing manager get the closing cashier started on the task that the morning cashier should have been working on. 

In any case.

Closer to the end of the night when the closing manager needs to be switching gears to start the closing tasks I get a text of "Hey we're still working truck but I got half the scans done!" 

And I'm just.....face palming.

Because TRUCK SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FOCUS.

How hard is it to get through everyone's skulls that truck should have been done first?!

Like scans can be pushed off to a different day if needed. Truck? Not so much. 

And granted I'm sure that closing manager did some of the scans for a bit of those happy endorphins of "I completed a task" but at the same time. WHAT ABOUT THE TRUCK!

Sooo yah it's left me a bit frustrated to have multiple people ignoring the 'truck first' priority and just like....do their own thing. 

Especially when that means that I have even more on my plate for tomorrow when I go into work because now I have to fit in the rest of whatever didn't get done today with what has to be done tomorrow. 

So yah.

Frustrations all around.

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi