Goodbye Waldenbooks

So I didn't feel good this morning, and really didn't want to go in to work today, and I wish I hadn't. Today just went from bad to worse, and it started yesterday.

Yesterday I got a phone call at about 10:30am from Alix because our guy never showed to open this morning, and she got a very irritated message from Susan about it. She wanted to know if I knew who was on, and I gave her the two names I had, and when she asked if I could come in I had to tell her no. I had to refinance my student loan yesterday, so since it was my only day off this week before Saturday, that really had to get done.

Well, he never showed yesterday, and we have not been able to get in touch with him at all. He was supposed to close today as well, but we ended up calling in Huma and Heidi since Megan and Andrew needed the days off. It's an absolute mess. And since this guy also opens on Saturday, we're scheduling someone else his shift because we have no idea if he'll show up then either. I also had to call Andrew to let him know that he was needed for work right after he gets back from vacation. We just can't afford for this right now, so close to packing up.

Speaking of packing up, as if this day could not get any worse...

So not long after I got that phone call about the guy, Alix calls back. As of January 31st Waldenbooks in the Wilton Mall will no longer exist, and neither will any of our jobs. Within five months I was hired, promoted to Assistant Manager, and laid off. Kind of Steve's job in lightning speed. God, I think I'm the only 19 year old in my area right now that can boast that track record. God damn this economy.

So within this month Alix has to shut down and pack up two kiosks and a store. We have three different close dates for the CP kiosk as it is, and no idea what is the correct one. So I told her that we should just say screw it, and pack up next week. If we talk to Susan about it, she won't mind. And then just leave the kiosk for the moving company to pick up later, whenever that happens. That way we can concentrate on the big issue: the store in the mall.

Like, this is just plain madness.

Waldenbooks isn't the only one leaving.

Wilton Mall is also losing Ritz Camera as of the 6th of January, and has already lost KB Toys when they went under, and Carlton Cards. Rumour has it that H+M Block might be closing, and the workers at Bon Ton have worries and suspicions that they might be closing up too. Boscovs also almost went under, and I know that Circuit City has declared bankruptcy. The economy is horrible. Anyone who is still denying that the economy is hurting needs to be kicked in the shins.

So I guess I'm back to square one job wise. And I have a student loan and car loan to pay. God... this sucks. I wanted to go to LA for Anime Expo this summer, but if I can't get a job that's just not going to happen. :<

My cousin is going to help me with State Farm Insurance though. As much as I really despise desk jobs, right now that's the most stable area to be in. And State Farm tends to pay pretty well, so I'm going to try. The important thing right now is to have steady income so I can work on getting out of debt. In the mean time, I'll keep pursuing photography, and documenting what's going on now. Because this is history repeating itself.

Hello Great Depression #2.

And how random is this, just as I started to type this a guy who lost his Waldenbooks in TN contacted me on MSN, who reads this blog. Small world, small world.

Good luck to all my fellow retail workers, there is no job security. I hope your fate is better than mine.