First 2 weeks are over!

Whew...the first 2 weeks are finally behind us. We've already had some key players quit or get fired. I started out with 2 guys helping me in the warehouse and then 1 went to being a shuttle driver and wasn't replaced in the warehouse. Then Tony's wife had to quit housekeeping so Daisy finally agreed to let her come to the warehouse to work. What a HUGE difference 1 more person makes when they actually work. The Gift Shop is doing better than last year in sales, but then it is more eye appealing this year too.

I saw my 1st Condor last week too. #47 was being bad by hanging around the back dock of the Lodge for a couple of days until he was taken away for relocation.

It's also been raining, sleeting or hailing here everyday now for over a week also. Shake down dinner for the Cookout was last night and we all froze. Woody & Cleeta Jane had a whole new program that was all about the North Rim. Except for it being so cold and Gary not getting his coffee refills fast enough the night was a good night out.

There's a lot of pictures here but I thought you would like to see the whole Gift Shop. Also the picture of the ground in front of the truck is hail.

The North Rim Is Open!

I have been right out straight for the last month getting the retail warehouse in order and ready for opening day and NOW we have Opening Day behind us!!

My warehouse is a mess. Corporate people come up and set up the displays for both the Gift Shop and the General Store. They come down to my "dungeon", take what they need and then send half of it back, making a huge mess but I must say the Gift Shop has never looked better. It is absolutely gorgeous this year!

Yesterday was opening day and of course we filled up fast. Being down in my "dungeon" (we call it that becasuse it is pretty cold down there) I would get a glimps of how many people were arriving only when I went to lunch and home for the day. Tony, my helper, was out with the van all day it seems getting the rest of the unused items out of the stores and then taking supplies to the stores. The little things had to be done yesterday, bags, gift boxes, wrapping tissue, ect.

I managed to get my office in order with the help of the phone/computer guy Josh. Now both my phones and my internet work, Thursday they did not and that was a huge problem. Good thing my cell phone works down there or I would have not been able to communicate with the stores to find out exactly what they needed. Anyways, my office is how I want it, I got more pricing done yesterday and some things put away. Today, I will have Roger( my other helper) & Tony straightening out the rooms while I get my paperwork done. That was the worst part of opening this year because we were still getting product in Thursday night by UPS and still don't have all the price stickers for everything. I also have to take a trip to the General Store and talk with Kathleen. She must have a long list of things she needs by now too. I wonder how much stuff UPS left for me last night. Got to get that all squared away today too. Lots to do taday! But I have Sunday & Monday off!!!

Gary is working the night shift for the next 2 weeks. That's 2PM till 10PM and on call all night. He's teaching each of the new maintenance guys what to do. At 11:00PM last night, security came knocking looking for him-something broke and needed fixing-but he wasn't home yet. I have no idea what time he came home either. At least he has Sunday & Monday off with me so I can get 2 nights of sleep.