By Helene Smith
Logan Square.
(ENLARGE FOR PROPER VIEWING)
Posted on October 23, 2015
I Am A Retail Warrior: Throw The Dog A Birthday Bone!
By Jane Harper
Remember the customer who wouldn’t stop texting my personal cell phone? Well she texted me at 7 a.m. on my day off a couple of weeks ago. Seems she just felt the need to reach out and wake someone. Actually, she was checking on a pending special order, because, like 95 percent of customers who order things from us, she decided to stop listening when we got to the part of the transaction when I tell them specials can take up to six weeks. I got the last laugh, though. I waited until the next day when I was in, called her to update her, then politely let her know she’d been texting my personal phone and would perhaps get a timelier and more accurate response if she called the store directly. She seemed only mildly miffed, and I haven’t heard from her since, so I guess that’s good news, though I have the feeling it’s not over yet.
Since then, I’ve had several customers who just seem completely off the rails. Take, for instance, the woman who brought in a toy she’d been given as a “new puppy” gift and wanted to exchange it because she was sure her puppy would just destroy it. It was a sweet little toy, perfect for small breed puppies, and very popular among customers and gift-givers alike. And there’s no stuffing in it, so who cares if the puppy destroys it? Puppies destroy stuff – better their own toys than your shoes or furniture. But she insisted she wouldn’t have a toy that his tiny teeth could rip up, and asked for advice on something better and more durable.
Posted on October 19, 2015
Beachwood Photo Booth: Uptown Autumn Night
By Helene Smith
Timeless, like Havana in some sort of way.
(ENLARGE FOR PROPER VIEWING)
Posted on October 16, 2015
Chicagoetry: Longshadow
By J.J. Tindall
Longshadow
Every fall
I pretend I’m tall,
Lingering in the garden
Just after dawn where
Every long shadow is
A partial eclipse
Of the lawn.
Posted on October 14, 2015
Exclusive: U.S. Probes Allegations AB InBev Seeking To Curb Craft Beer Distribution
By Diane Bartz/Reuters
The U.S. Justice Department is probing allegations that Anheuser-Busch InBev is seeking to curb competition in the beer market by buying distributors, making it harder for fast-growing craft brewers to get their products on store shelves, according to three people familiar with the matter.
In the past few months, the world’s largest brewer has rattled the craft beer world by striking deals for five distributors in three states. Many states require brewers to use distributors to sell their product, and once AB InBev buys a distributor, craft companies say they find that they can’t distribute their beer as easily and sales growth stalls.
Posted on October 13, 2015
Exclusive! Inside The USS Illinois
Another Beachwood Special Report
First Lady Michelle Obama and Gov. Bruce Rauner were on hand in Connecticut over the weekend for the christening of the USS Illinois.
“The $2.7 billion vessel is the 13th in the Virginia class of submarines, which can carry out a range of missions including anti-submarine warfare, delivery of special forces and surveillance. The 377-foot submarine will carry a crew of more than 130 and a payload of weapons including torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles,” AP reports.
“The crest of the submarine features an outline of the state of Illinois, a white-tailed deer in honor of the state animal and foliage representing Illinois forest and prairie life. It also has a banner with the Latin words ‘Nemo Magis Fortiter,’ or ‘none more brave,’ a line from the Illinois state song.”
Those aren’t the only Illinois touches. A Beachwood investigation has found the sub has a few other features particular to its Illinois lineage:
Posted on October 12, 2015
Beachwood Photo Booth: At The Corner Of Glad And Happy
Cook County Forest Preserves Photo Contest!
By The Forest Preserves Of Cook County
The Forest Preserves of Cook County is seeking the public’s help in selecting 12 winning photographs to be featured in its 2016 wall calendar.
Photographs were submitted during the fourth annual photo contest, and highlight various habitats such as forest woodlands, wetlands, prairie and savanna as well as the native plant and wildlife that can be seen while exploring the Forest Preserves. Previous winning photographs have showcased the Forest Preserves under a soft blanket of snow, blooming with new life in springtime, and transforming to autumn’s shades of gold and red.
Posted on October 7, 2015
Fire Prevention Week Do’s & Don’ts!
By FEMA
October 4 – 10, 2015, marks Fire Prevention Week, a commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 and an opportunity to emphasize fire safety and preparedness.
Remember these dos and don’ts to help you and your family protect against the dangers of a house fire:
Posted on October 6, 2015
I Am A Retail Warrior: The 41-Cent Saga
By Jane Harper
So I’ve mentioned my co-workers before. There aren’t many of us – the bosses, the old guy, the part-timer (technically, there are two part-timers, but one only works a couple of days a month), and me. There are many times I enjoy how few co-workers I have to deal with. I’m not much of a people person anyway – part of what makes me good at this job is the amount of time I get to focus on the canines. We’ve had a few other workers come and go over the years, but only one lasted longer than a couple of months. I got along really well with her, and was sad to see her move on to more lucrative things, but we’ve remained friends.
Because there are only five of us, we are very much like a family. This can be good – when someone is ill or going through hard times, we tend to comfort one another. My bosses are also my friends and advisers at times. In fact, on days I’m not working alone, I’m often asked if I’m the wife, daughter or sister of whichever colleague is there.
Like any family, though, we have some issues. Over the past year, one issue has been nagging at me, and it’s bothersome enough to warrant sharing. My significantly older co-worker, “Joe,” either brings his personal issues to work and takes them out on me or he’s got a bizarre condition that causes him to have verbally violent temper outbursts directed at me (and only me), even in front of customers.
Posted on October 5, 2015